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.
Central Universities in India Highlights
Particular | Detail |
| Number of Central Universities | 56 |
| Established by | University Grants Commission Act of 1956 Central Universities Act, 2009 |
| Funded by | UGC Govt of India |
| Oldest Central University | Allahabad University |
| Youngest Central University | Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh |
| Most Central Universities | Delhi |
| 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 Pradesh | 2018 | Andhra Pradesh |
| Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh | 2019 | |
| The National Sanskrit University | 1956 | |
| Rajiv Gandhi University | 1984 | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Assam University | 1994 | Assam |
| Tezpur University | 1994 | |
| Central University of South Bihar | 2009 | Bihar |
| Mahatma Gandhi Central University | 2016 | |
| Nalanda University | 2010 | |
| Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University | 1905 | |
| Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya | 1983 | Chhattisgarh |
| Indira Gandhi National Open University | 2007 | Delhi |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | 1920 | |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University | 1969 | |
| South Asian University | 2010 | |
| University of Delhi | 1922 | |
| The Central Sanskrit University | 1970 | |
| Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University | 1962 | |
| Central University of Gujarat | 2009 | Gujarat |
| Central University of Haryana | 2009 | Haryana |
| Central University of Himachal Pradesh | 2009 | Himachal Pradesh |
| Central University of Jammu | 2011 | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Central University of Kashmir | 2009 | |
| Central University of Jharkhand | 2009 | Jharkhand |
| Central University of Karnataka | 2009 | Karnataka |
| Central University of Kerala | 2009 | Kerala |
| Sindhu Central University | 2021 | Ladakh |
| Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya | 1946 | Madhya Pradesh |
| The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University | 2007 | |
| Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya | 1997 | Maharashtra |
| Central Agriculture University | 1993 | Manipur |
| Manipur University | 1985 | |
| National Sports University | 2018 | |
| Mizoram University | 2000 | Mizoram |
| North Eastern Hill University | 1973 | Meghalaya |
| Nagaland University | 1994 | Nagaland |
| Central University of Odisha | 2009 | Odisha |
| Pondicherry University | 1985 | Pondicherry |
| Central University of Rajasthan | 2009 | Rajasthan |
| Sikkim University | 2007 | Sikkim |
| Central University of Tamil Nadu | 2009 | Tamil Nadu |
| Indian Maritime University | 2008 | |
| English and Foreign Languages University | 1958 | Telangana |
| Maulana Azad National Urdu University | 1998 | |
| University of Hyderabad | 1974 | |
| Tripura University | 1987 | Tripura |
| Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University | 1973 | Uttarakhand |
| Aligarh Muslim University | 1920 | Uttar Pradesh |
| Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University | 1996 | |
| Banaras Hindu University | 1916 | |
| University of Allahabad | 1887 | |
| Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University | 2013 | |
| Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University | 2014 | |
| Visva Bharati University | 1921 | West Bengal |
Central Universities in India: Under the purview of other Ministries
Central University | Ministry |
| Nalanda University | Ministry of External Affairs |
| Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University | Ministry of Agriculture |
| South Asian University | Ministry of External Affairs |
| Indira Gandhi National Open University | Ministry of Education |
| Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya | Ministry of Railway |
| Central Agricultural University | Ministry of Agriculture |
| National Sports University | Ministry of Sports |
| Indian Maritime University | Ministry of Transport |
| Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University | Ministry of Civil Aviation |
| Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University | Ministry 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 University | 2 |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | 3 |
| Banaras Hindu University | 5 |
| Aligarh Muslim University | 9 |
| University of Hyderabad | 10 |
| University of Delhi | 11 |
| Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University | 42 |
| Tezpur University | 69 |
| Mizoram University | 76 |
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 Pradesh | 3 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 1 |
| Assam | 2 |
| Bihar | 4 |
| Chhattisgarh | 1 |
| Delhi | 7 |
| Goa | 0 |
| Gujarat | 1 |
| Haryana | 1 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 1 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 2 |
| Jharkhand | 1 |
| Karnataka | 1 |
| Kerala | 1 |
| Ladakh | 1 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 2 |
| Maharashtra | 1 |
| Manipur | 3 |
| Meghalaya | 1 |
| Mizoram | 1 |
| Nagaland | 1 |
| Odisha | 1 |
| Puducherry | 1 |
| Punjab | 1 |
| Rajasthan | 1 |
| Sikkim | 1 |
| Tamil Nadu | 2 |
| Telangana | 3 |
| Tripura | 1 |
| Uttarakhand | 1 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 6 |
| West Bengal | 1 |
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 Begins | 09 Feb 2024 |
| CUET 2024 Registration Ends | 30 March 2024 |
| CUET 2024 Exam Date | 21 May-31 May 2024 (Extended by 4 Days) |
| CUET 2024 Result | June/July 2024 |
| CUET 2024 Counselling | July/August 2024 |
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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:
- 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