On May 8, 2026, the Department of Chemistry, Girijananda Chowdhury University, Azara, Guwahati organized an educational industrial visit to Ajanta Pharma Limited, Palasbari Guwahati. The tour group included a group of 18 students from the Department of Chemistry of the university as part of their experiential learning initiative. Ajanta Pharma is a specialty pharmaceutical company providing quality medicines across 33+ countries in the world. Ajanta Pharma operates 7 state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in India, including the plant at Palasbari. The initiative for the tour was taken by Dr. Swarnali Pathak, Head, Department of Chemistry. The students were accompanied by Dr. Suranjana Patowary, Assistant Professor and Mr. Bhaskar Chakravarty, Laboratory Instructor from the Department of Chemistry, Girijananda Chowdhury University.
The visit was targeted to provide the students a first-hand exposure of the applications of Chemistry in pharmaceutical industries. Students were warmly welcomed by the Plant Head. Insiders of the industry gave a briefing on the standard safety mandates of the industry to the group that were to be maintained while taking the tour inside oral solid dosages, ointments, jelly and sterile eye drop manufacturing units.
The students were introduced to the Oral Solid Dosage (OSD) manufacturing unit, where they observed the step-by-step production of pharmaceutical tablets and capsules. Industry professionals explained various stages involved in the manufacturing process, including granulation, blending, drying, compression, coating, and packaging. They observed modern automated packaging systems designed to ensure precision, hygiene, and product safety. The importance of cleanliness standards, and quality assurance in pharmaceutical industries was highlighted throughout the visit.
A major learning experience for the students was the exposure to sophisticated analytical and instruments used in the quality control unit of the pharmaceutical sector. The experts at the company well-demonstrated the applications of advanced instruments such as High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectrophotometers, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometers, Dissolution Test Apparatus, Tablet Hardness Testers, pH meters, Moisture Analyzers, and Stability Testing Chambers. Students also learned about microbiological testing and quality evaluation procedures carried out to ensure the safety, purity, and efficacy of medicines before they reach consumers. Students seemed quite fascinated by seeing the instruments in real, straight out of their analytical chemistry textbooks. This experience should surely help students to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industrial applications of chemistry.
The industrial experts explained how analytical chemistry plays a crucial role in maintaining pharmaceutical standards and complying with national and international regulations. Students were able to relate several concepts learned in their curriculum, such as spectroscopy, chromatography, reaction kinetics and instrumental analysis. The record room was also made accessible to the students to understand the importance of proper journaling of batch synthesis of medicines in the industry.
An interactive session with the quality analysts and production staff enabled students to ask questions regarding industrial careers and research opportunities in Ajanta Pharma Limited and pharmaceutical industries in general. The experience is believed to give them valuable insights into the professional environment and the interdisciplinary nature of pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biology along with marketing protocols.
The university believes that such educational visits play an important role in expanding students’ knowledge beyond textbooks and creates enthusiasm and motivation towards research, innovation, and career opportunities.
The Department of Chemistry, Girijananda Chowdhury University expresses its heartiest gratitude to the management and staff of Ajanta Pharma Limited, Palasbari for providing the opportunity to visit their facility. Due to strict confidentiality and regulatory protocols followed by the pharmaceutical industry, the use of photography, mobile phones and personal electronic devices was strictly prohibited inside the premises. Here are a few snapshots from the day.
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