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Preeti Sharma

Updated on 22nd January, 2024 , 4 min read

Central Universities in India: Complete List of MRHD, UCG-Approved 56 Central Universities

University

Central Universities in India: India has 56 central universities with an international education index of 131/191. Among these, 40 get funding from the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the Ministry of Education (MoE), while nine have autonomous status and direct funding from the Government of India (GoI). Every Indian state, except Goa, has at least one central university. 

Madras University Result

Central Universities in India Highlights

Particular

Detail

Number of Central Universities56
Established by

University Grants Commission Act of 1956

Central Universities Act, 2009

Funded by

UGC

Govt of India

Oldest Central UniversityAllahabad University
Youngest Central UniversityCentral Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh
Most Central UniversitiesDelhi
NIRF Ranking 2023

JNU: 2nd Rank

JMI: 3rd Rank

What is Central University in India?

Central universities in India are publicly funded educational institutions established through the Act of Parliament and fall within the jurisdiction of the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education. Of which ten universities operate under different ministries. Typically, universities in India receive recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC), empowered by the University Grants Commission Act of 1956.

India has a total of 56 central universities as of June 2023, with Allahabad University being the oldest, established in 1887, and the Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh being the youngest, founded in 2019. Except for Goa, at least one central university has been established in every state or union territory. New Delhi leads the list with seven central universities, followed by Uttar Pradesh with six and Bihar with four. Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana each contribute three universities to the national count.

Central Universities in India: Complete List

Central Universities

Establishment Year

State

Central University of Andhra Pradesh2018Andhra Pradesh
Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh2019
The National Sanskrit University1956
Rajiv Gandhi University1984Arunachal Pradesh
Assam University1994Assam
Tezpur University1994
Central University of South Bihar2009Bihar
Mahatma Gandhi Central University2016
Nalanda University2010
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University1905
Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya1983Chhattisgarh
Indira Gandhi National Open University2007Delhi
Jamia Millia Islamia1920
Jawaharlal Nehru University1969
South Asian University2010
University of Delhi1922
The Central Sanskrit University1970
Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University1962
Central University of Gujarat2009Gujarat
Central University of Haryana2009Haryana
Central University of Himachal Pradesh2009Himachal Pradesh
Central University of Jammu2011Jammu and Kashmir
Central University of Kashmir2009
Central University of Jharkhand2009Jharkhand
Central University of Karnataka2009Karnataka
Central University of Kerala2009Kerala
Sindhu Central University2021Ladakh
Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya1946Madhya Pradesh
The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University2007
Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya1997Maharashtra
Central Agriculture University1993Manipur
Manipur University1985
National Sports University2018
Mizoram University2000Mizoram
North Eastern Hill University1973Meghalaya
Nagaland University1994Nagaland
Central University of Odisha2009Odisha
Pondicherry University1985Pondicherry
Central University of Rajasthan2009Rajasthan
Sikkim University2007Sikkim
Central University of Tamil Nadu2009Tamil Nadu
Indian Maritime University2008
English and Foreign Languages University1958Telangana
Maulana Azad National Urdu University1998
University of Hyderabad1974
Tripura University1987Tripura
Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University1973Uttarakhand
Aligarh Muslim University1920Uttar Pradesh
Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University1996
Banaras Hindu University1916
University of Allahabad1887
Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University2013
Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University2014
Visva Bharati University1921West Bengal

Central Universities in India: Under the purview of other Ministries

Central University

Ministry

Nalanda UniversityMinistry of External Affairs
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural UniversityMinistry of Agriculture
South Asian UniversityMinistry of External Affairs
Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityMinistry of Education
Gati Shakti VishwavidyalayaMinistry of Railway
Central Agricultural UniversityMinistry of Agriculture
National Sports UniversityMinistry of Sports
Indian Maritime UniversityMinistry of Transport
Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation UniversityMinistry of Civil Aviation
Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural UniversityMinistry of Agriculture

Central Universities in India: NIRF Ranking 2023

For imparting quality education and providing a learning environment to students from all socio-economic backgrounds, the central universities in India have earned prestigious ranks in the ‘University’ Category by the renowned ranking agency NIRF in 2023. We have tabulated the NIRF Rankings below:

NIRF Ranking 2023: University 

Jawaharlal Nehru University2
Jamia Millia Islamia3
Banaras Hindu University5
Aligarh Muslim University9
University of Hyderabad10
University of Delhi11
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University42
Tezpur University69
Mizoram University76

Central Universities in India: State-wise Distribution

The highest number of central universities in India are situated in Delhi, followed by Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. All the states and UTs have at least one central university except for Goa. We have tabulated the number of central universities in all states below:

Indian State

Number of Central Universities

Andhra Pradesh3
Arunachal Pradesh1
Assam2
Bihar4
Chhattisgarh1
Delhi7
Goa0
Gujarat1
Haryana1
Himachal Pradesh1
Jammu & Kashmir2
Jharkhand1
Karnataka1
Kerala1
Ladakh1
Madhya Pradesh2
Maharashtra1
Manipur3
Meghalaya1
Mizoram1
Nagaland1
Odisha1
Puducherry1
Punjab1
Rajasthan1
Sikkim1
Tamil Nadu2
Telangana3
Tripura1
Uttarakhand1
Uttar Pradesh6
West Bengal1

Central Universities in India: Exams Accepted

Admission to all central universities in India is based on the CUET scores. CUET stands for Common University Entrance Test. Students have to appear for CUET-UG for UG course admission and CUET-PG for PG course admission. We have tabulated important CUET dates below:

Particular

Dates (Tentative)

CUET 2024 Registration Begins09 Feb 2024
CUET 2024 Registration Ends30 March 2024
CUET 2024 Exam Date21 May-31 May 2024 (Extended by 4 Days)
CUET 2024 ResultJune/July 2024
CUET 2024 CounsellingJuly/August 2024

Related Articles:

Top 10 Central Universities in India

Students planning to pursue their higher studies at a central university can check out the list of the top 10 Central Universities in India given below:

  1. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
  2. Banaras Hindu University, Uttar Pradesh
  3. Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
  4. University of Hyderabad, Telangana
  5. Aligarh Muslim University, Uttar Pradesh
  6. University of Delhi, Delhi
  7. Tezpur University, Assam
  8. Pondicherry University, Pondicherry
  9. North-Eastern Hill University, Meghalaya
  10. Visva Bharati University, West Bengal 
     

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many central university are there in India?

There are 56 central university in India under UGC, Ministry of Education (MoE)

Which is the top 10 central university in India?

The top ten central university in India include: Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Banaras Hindu University, Uttar Pradesh. Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. University of Hyderabad, Telangana. Aligarh Muslim University, Uttar Pradesh. University of Delhi, Delhi. Tezpur University, Assam. Pondicherry University, Pondicherry. North-Eastern Hill University, Meghalaya Visva Bharati University, West Bengal

Which university is best under cuet?

The best central university under CUET include: JNU, JMI, BHU, DU, University of Hyderabad, BBAU

Which are the central universities in Delhi?

Delhi has 7 central universities namely: University of Delhi, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University, South Asian University, The Central Sanskrit University, and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University.

Which exams do central universities in India accept for admissions?

All the central universities in India accepts CUET scores for admission to UG and PG courses.

Under which act Central Universities are established in India?

Under the Act of Parliament, i.e., University Grants Commission Act of 1956 and Central Universities Act, 2009, Central Universities are established in India.

Which is the oldest central university in India?

The oldest central university in India is University of Allahabad. It was established in 1887 in Allahabad, UP.

Which is the youngest Central University in India?

Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh is the youngest Central University in India. It was established in 2019.

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