The admission process that has been going on since last week has given the campus a festive look, with a huge rush of young faces around colourful tents that have been erected beside the main inquiry block. All major student parties have set up these tents to provide help for the anxious students and parents. 

"On an average, every day we are attending to around 500 to 600 new students. We are distributing admission forms free of cost, helping them fill the forms and also accompanying them to submit the form," told Babloo Singh, a volunteer of the Students' Organisation of Punjab University (SOPU).

Hemant Boriwal, a volunteer of the Punjab University Students' Union (PUSU), said, "The idea is to make the admission process more hassle-free. The information we are providing here is accurate and authentic. We also have details of the previous years' cut-offs and contact numbers of faculty members to help the students." 

"Moreover, if we help the fresher at this time then we can easily win their loyalty. It would certainly guarantee their vote in favour of our party in the next students' council elections!" he said.

Even though these processes have been adopted by Punjab University, they have also opted to use the modern technologies. 

In fact this year the authorities have also made sophisticated arrangements to assist students. They have installed an LCD screen outside the University Institute of Allied Management Sciences adjacent to the inquiry hall.

"Thousands of outstation students from states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir come here for admissions. Seeing the problems faced by them we have come up with these things," said Kishore, dean, students' welfare.

The university authorities have also come with their own help desk - which is apart from the regular inquiry block - with two senior teachers present there to guide students from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This is the first time in Panjab University that faculty members are also sitting at the help desk. Hostel wardens are also present. 

"Many times students commit mistakes while applying, leading to rejection of their forms. But now they can avail of all the information from experts sitting at the help desk," said Naval Kishore. 

Hemant Negi, an aspirant, who graduated from Shimla University, said: "I am amazed to see students sitting in the tents to help us in this sweltering summer. They are very friendly and helpful and even offered us water and eatables”.

"The LCD screen was also very helpful as it addressed 90% of my doubts regarding admission and hostel facility."