Chandigarh University Expands In-House Training for Civil Services and Competitive Exams

Chandigarh University (CU) has announced the expansion of its career-development initiatives through its Department of Career Planning & Development (DCPD). The institution is providing in-house training and preparation for a wide range of competitive examinations, moving beyond traditional campus placements to help students prepare for diverse professional domains.

The expanded training framework covers examinations such as UPSC for Civil Services, SSC-CGL and Bank PO for government and banking sectors, GATE for engineering and public sector undertakings (PSUs), CAT for management education, and CDS for defence services. Additionally, the university provides guidance for UGC-NET, GRE, GMAT, and IELTS to support students targeting teaching, research, and international higher education.

As part of its civil services preparation initiative, CU-DCPD conducted 45 workshops during the 2024-25 academic period, focusing on examination patterns and strategies. The university also organized a specific session on April 17, 2026, featuring Gaurav Krishna, a Senior Officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS). Alongside workshops, the department offers structured 1.5-year and 3-year UPSC preparation programmes for interested students.

For engineering students, the dedicated GATE preparation programme is designed to support aspirants targeting advanced technical education at premier institutes like IITs, NITs, and IIITs, as well as recruitment opportunities in organizations such as ONGC, NTPC, BHEL, DRDO, and ISRO. Similarly, management aspirants receive expert-led training for CAT, GRE, and GMAT to assist with admissions to management institutions and universities overseas.

Additional training tracks include preparation for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination for officer-level roles in the armed forces, and UGC-NET Paper 1 preparation for students pursuing careers in academics and research. These programmes are structured to run concurrently with the students' regular academic courses.

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade and QS World Ranked autonomous university approved by UGC, located near Chandigarh in Punjab. The institution offers over 109 undergraduate and postgraduate programs across disciplines including engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, and commerce.

"Integrating competitive exam preparation within the university curriculum marks a notable shift in how educational institutions approach student readiness. By offering structured training for civil services, management, and technical examinations on campus, universities can bridge the gap between conventional degrees and professional requirements. This approach helps students build long-term career strategies alongside their academic pursuits." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes