The university is named after Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, a prominent political philosopher and economist who advocated for self-reliance and socio-economic equality.
PDPU offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in various fields including engineering, management, liberal studies, humanities, and social sciences. The university has seven schools: School of Petroleum Technology, School of Technology, School of Petroleum Management, School of Liberal Studies, School of Solar Energy, School of Technology Management, and School of Liberal Studies.
Apart from academics, PDPU has a vibrant campus life with numerous clubs and societies for students to participate in. The university hosts several cultural and sports events throughout the year, including the annual inter-college sports festival and the cultural festival, Jashn.