The story of NIPER Mohali, once a shining jewel of Indian pharmaceutical education, is now a cautionary tale of how institutional politics, systemic neglect, and administrative battles can derail academic excellence.
When the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, was ranked No. 2 in the country in the Pharmacy category under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), expectations were high. With fresh initiatives in research, collaborations with pharma companies, and greater involvement of scientists in teaching, the Institute under my directorship rose to No. 1 the very next year.
But from June 2018 onwards, the script changed. With Dr. V. M. Katoch as Chairman and Mr. Rajneesh Tingal, Joint Secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals, institutional politics began overshadowing academics. Legal cases consumed attention and resources. Despite relief from the Punjab and Haryana High Court on two occasions, relentless attacks continued to protect suspended officials, paralyzing the functioning of the Institute.
The cracks showed in 2019 when NIPER Mohali slipped to No. 3 in NIRF. The Times of India reported the reasons: outdated equipment, declining funds, and lack of faculty recruitment. Against an annual budget of ₹45 crore, only ₹29 crore was released by the Ministry, stunting laboratory upgrades and student resources.
Even research, once NIPER’s strength, became a double-edged sword. Over 60% of publications were not counted in NIRF because they appeared in global high-impact journals like Nature and Chemical Reviews, but not in pharmacy-specific ones.
The fallout was visible: in 2019, NIPER Mohali ranked 7th in “Teaching, Learning and Resources” and underperformed in “Research and Professional Practices,” two parameters that together account for 60% of the ranking score.
Fast forward to 2025. For the second consecutive year, NIPER Mohali has retained only the ninth position in the Pharmacy category. Jamia Hamdard leads the table, followed by BITS Pilani, Panjab University, JSS College (Ooty), and NIPER Hyderabad, which itself has slipped to No. 5 after being No. 1 just two years ago.
This raises a critical question: What is holding back NIPER Mohali, even under new leadership?
Dr. Dulal Panda, the current Director, has been allowed to recruit more faculty. The faculty-student ratio should, in theory, have improved. The Department of Pharmaceuticals is now more liberal with funds. Yet, the Institute remains mired in the lower half of the top 10.
The answer lies in the unhealthy diversion of focus—from academics to courtrooms. This very week alone, NIPER Mohali was entangled in multiple cases:
- 1st September 2025: Employees demanding Part-B pay committee benefits secured the next hearing date.
- 1st September 2025: The case of expelled faculty Dr. Neeraj Kumar was listed.
- 2nd September 2025: The CBI’s pending case against eight ex-officials and the registrar was adjourned.
- 4th September 2025: An appeal against the Single Bench decision on registrar benefits was filed.
For two consecutive tenures, Dr. V. M. Katoch chaired the Board of Governors. His decisions, many now under dispute, continue to drag the Institute into legal quicksand.
The decline of NIPER Mohali is not an isolated case. NIPER Hyderabad, once ranked No. 1 in 2023, has fallen to No. 5 in 2025. This points to deeper systemic flaws within the Department of Pharmaceuticals, which governs all NIPERs. Funding uncertainties, arbitrary decision-making, and unresolved legal disputes are eating into academic focus and institutional credibility.
Unless accountability is fixed and vested interests removed, NIPERs will continue to slip further in national and global standings. These institutions do not need a mere “blood transfusion”—temporary relief through token funds or piecemeal reforms. What they require is “grafting and transplantation”—radical structural reforms, professional leadership, transparent governance, and insulation from bureaucratic interference.
Until then, the dream of building NIPERs as India’s answer to world-class pharmacy schools will remain just that—a dream.
