UGC Approved Central Universities – North India

UGC-Approved Central Universities in North India - There are as many as 56 Central Universities in India. These universities are established under an Act of Parliament. Central universities are directly controlled by the Department of Higher Education, which works under the Union Human Resource Development Ministry. The University Grants Commission (UGC) typically provides all the funding required for the development and maintenance of these universities. Central universities are also commonly known as union universities. While some central universities have built a strong credibility over years of their operations, some central universities are relatively new. In this article, you will find the list of the UGC-Approved Central Universities in North India. Read on to learn more.
Also Read: UGC Approved Central Universities – West & Central India
- 1. Delhi University (DU), Delhi
- 2. Jamia Millia Islamia University (JMI), Delhi
- 3. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi
- 5. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Delhi
- 6. South Asian University (SAU), Delhi
- 7. Central University of Haryana, Haryana
- 8. Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh
- 9. Central University of Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir
- 10. Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Jammu & Kashmir
- 11. Central University of Punjab (CUPB), Punjab
- 12. Central University of Rajasthan, Rajasthan
- 13. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Uttar Pradesh
- 14. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Uttar Pradesh
- 15. Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Uttar Pradesh
- 16. University of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
- 17. Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Uttarakhand
- 18. Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University, Uttar Pradesh
- 19. Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Uttar Pradesh
1. Delhi University (DU), Delhi
Delhi University was established in 1922 and is one of the largest central universities in India. Currently, the university has 77 affiliated colleges, 86 academic departments, and 16 faculties.
Some of the departments at DU include:
Applied Social Sciences & Humanities |
Law |
Arts |
Management Studies |
Commerce & Business Studies |
Mathematical Sciences |
Education |
Medical Sciences |
Interdisciplinary & Applied Sciences |
Music & Fine Arts |
Open Learning |
Science |
Social Sciences |
Technology |
2. Jamia Millia Islamia University (JMI), Delhi
Established in 1920, Jamia Millia Islamia University offers a myriad of programmes in disciplines such as Law, Commerce, Science, BTech, BEd, and Languages. A number of programmes on offer at JMI University. The category-wise number of programmes are mentioned in the table below.
At the undergraduate level, DU offers BSc (Hons) and BSc programmes across 19 and 10 specialisations, respectively, of three years' duration. Offered in both honours and general specialisationshe, the honours courses are more specialised and focus on a particular subject area while the general courses are more broad-based and cover a wider range of subjects, such as BSc (General) or BSc (Pass).
Out of the 90+ affiliated colleges under DU, more than 25 instituites offer BSc or BSc (Hons) courses to the students. Admission to all these courses was subject to merit in Class 12 till 2021. However, starting 2022, admission for all the undergraduate courses at DU will be based on CUET (conducted by NTA). The most popular specialisations offered under BSc (Hons) at the University of Delhi remain Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Computer Science, among various others. However, the popularity and choice of the course must depend on students' interest and academic background.
Category of Programmes |
Number of Programmes |
UG programmes |
53 |
PG programmes |
78 |
PG diploma programmes |
11 |
Advanced diploma programmes |
11 |
Diploma programmes |
21 |
Certificate programmes |
20 |
PhD programmes |
47 |
Total |
241 |
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Existing departments at Jamia Millia Islamia University include:
Department of Adult and Continuing Education and Extension |
Department of Civil Engineering |
Department of Arabic |
Department of Computer Science |
Department of Art History & Art Appreciation |
Department of Electrical Engineering |
Department of Chemistry |
Department of Geography |
Department of Computer Engineering |
Department of History and Culture |
Department of Educational Studies |
Department of Mechanical Engineering |
Department of English |
Department of Physics |
Department of Hindi |
Department of Sculpture |
Department of Mathematics |
Department of Teacher Training & Non-formal Education |
Department of Persian |
University Polytechnic |
Department of Psychology |
Department of Applied Sciences & Humanities |
Department of Sociology |
Department of Art Education |
Department of Urdu |
Department of Biotechnology |
Department of Applied Art |
Department of Commerce and Business Studies |
Department of Architecture |
Department of Economics |
Department of Biosciences |
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering |
Department of Graphic Art |
Department of Islamic Studies |
Department of Painting |
Department of Political Science |
Department of Social Work |
Department of Tourism, Hotel, Hospitality and Heritage Studies |
3. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi
Founded in early 1969, Jawaharlal Nehru University’s campus is spread across 1,000 acres of land in New Delhi. With an aim to offer admission to students from every nook and corner of India, the university conducts the JNU entrance exam simultaneously at 37 test centres across India every year. Some of the major schools and centres at JNU include:
School of Arts & Aesthetics |
School of Life Sciences |
School of Biotechnology |
School of Physical Sciences |
School of Computational & Integrative Sciences |
School of Social Sciences |
School of Computer & Systems Sciences |
Centre for the Study of Law & Governance |
School of Environmental Sciences |
Special Centre for Molecular Medicine |
School of International Studies |
Special Centre for Nanoscience |
School of Language, Literature & Culture Studies |
Special Centre for Sanskrit Studies |
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5. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Delhi
The Indira Gandhi National Open University is the national resource centre for open and distance learning. Established under an Act of Parliament in 1985, the university has under its ambit 21 schools and a network of 67 regional centres, about 2,667 learner support centres, and 29 overseas partner institutions.
The university offers a total of 228 degree, diploma, doctoral, and certificate programmes to students in various disciplines. Given below is the list of 21 schools at IGNOU:
School of Agriculture (SOA) |
School of Management Studies (SOMS) |
School of Education (SOE) |
School of Social Sciences (SOSS) |
School of Foreign Languages (SOFL) |
School of Translation Studies and Training (SOTST) |
School of Humanities (SOH) |
School of Continuing Education (SOCE) |
School of Law (SOL) |
School of Extension and Development Studies (SOEDS) |
School of Sciences (SOS) |
School of Health Sciences (SOHS) |
School of Tourism and Hospitality Service Management (SOTHSM) |
School of Journalism and New Media Studies (SOJNMS) |
School of Computer and Information Sciences (SOCIS) |
School of Performing and Visual Arts (SOPVA) |
School of Engineering & Technology (SOET) |
School of Social Work (SOSW) |
School of Gender and Development Studies (SOGDS) |
School of Vocational Education and Training (SOVET) |
School of Inter-Disciplinary and Trans-Disciplinary Studies (SOITS) |
- |
6. South Asian University (SAU), Delhi
South Asian University is an international university established by the governments of eight countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) in 2010. These countries include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
JNU MCA admission is based on a valid Central University Entrance Test (Postgraduate) CUET-PG score. CUET PG is an all-India-level entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). According to test-takers, the General Test was easy and the Domain Knowledge section was moderate to tough. Although the questions were on the expected lines and within the CUET PG syllabus but according to some students, a few questions were out of the syllabus and tricky. So, the JNU MCA entrance is not very tough but can be tricky.
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is one of the top-ranking universities in the country. In the NIRF rankings in 2023, BHU is ranked in fifth position under the "university" category. Moreover, as per the university NIRF report 2023, 480 UG (three-year) students were placed out of 3,564. The median package given to the placed candidates stood at INR 8 LPA. This was also the highest median package offered in the last three years. For more information on placements at BHU, click here.
The university offers postgraduate and doctoral programmes to students in different disciplines. The degrees and certificates granted by SAU are recognised by both UGC as well as SAARC countries. Currently, SAU has four departments offering different courses to students:
Department of Computer Science |
Department of International Relations |
Department of Sociology |
Department of Mathematics |
The two other Central Universities located in Delhi are the Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University.
7. Central University of Haryana, Haryana
Central University of Haryana is one of the 15 central universities in India established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) under the XI Five-Year Plan (2007-12).
The university campus is spread across 488 acres of land in the Mahendergarh district of Haryana. The university’s schools offering different courses to students are as mentioned in the table below:
School of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences |
School of Earth, Environment & Space Studies |
School of Language, Linguistics, Culture & Heritage |
School of Journalism, Mass Communication & Media |
School of Chemical Sciences |
School of Interdisciplinary & Applied Life Sciences |
School of Computer Science & Informatics |
School of Law, Governance, Public Policy & Management |
School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences |
- |
8. Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh
The Central University of Himachal Pradesh was established under the Central Universities Act 2009. The university was established with the vision of being recognised as a ‘Research University’ with greater emphasis on the creation of knowledge vis-à-vis the revival of Indian Traditional Knowledge and Practices.
Currently, the university has 11 schools (mentioned in the table below) offering PG courses to students in disciplines such as Science, Mathematics, and Management.
Business & Management Studies |
Life Sciences |
Earth & Environmental Sciences |
Mathematics, Computers & Information Sciences |
Education |
Physical & Material Sciences |
Fine Arts & Art Education |
Social Sciences |
Humanities & Languages |
Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Management |
Journalism, Mass Communication & New Media |
- |
It may be noted that in the coming few years the university is contemplating to have 17 schools with about 90 departments and 50 centres of studies.
9. Central University of Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir
Central University of Jammu came into existence in 2011 and offers PG and integrated PhD programmes to students. The university has a total of 13 approved schools and 81 approved departments under its ambit. However, currently only eight schools are functioning in the university.
Given below is the list of 13 approved schools at Central University of Jammu with their operational status:
School |
Status |
School of Business Studies |
Operational |
School of Knowledge Management, Information and Media Studies |
Operational |
School of Basic and Applied Sciences |
Operational |
School of Education |
Operational |
School of Humanities and Social Sciences |
Operational |
School of Languages |
Operational |
School of Law |
Non-Operational |
School of Visual and Performing Arts |
Non-Operational |
School of Medical and Allied Sciences |
Non-Operational |
School of Engineering Sciences and Technology |
Non-Operational |
School of Life Sciences |
Operational |
School of National Security Studies |
Operational |
School of Vocational Studies |
Non-Operational |
10. Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Jammu & Kashmir
Formerly known as Central University of Jammu and Kashmir, Central University of Kashmir was established in 2009. The university has a total of nine schools offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses to students in various disciplines. The nine schools include:
School of Engineering & Technology |
School of Physical & Chemical Sciences |
School of Education |
School of Business Studies |
School of Languages |
School of Legal Studies |
School of Social Sciences |
School of Media Studies |
School of Life Sciences |
- |
11. Central University of Punjab (CUPB), Punjab
Central University of Punjab came into existence in 2009 along with 12 other central universities in India. The university offers PG, MPhil, and PhD courses to students in disciplines including Science, Technology, Humanities, Law, and Social Science.
Currently, CUPB has 19 centres spread over nine schools. The schools include:
School of Basic and Applied Sciences |
School of Legal Studies and Governance |
School of Health Sciences |
School of Environment and Earth Sciences |
School of Education |
School of Social Sciences |
School of Languages, Literature and Culture |
School of Global Relations |
School of Engineering & Technology |
- |
12. Central University of Rajasthan, Rajasthan
Central University of Rajasthan was set up in 2009 and is located at Bandra Sindri near Kishangarh on Jaipur–Ajmer Road (NH-8). The university offers courses such as Architecture, Chemical Science, Environmental Science, Biotechnology, Mathematics, and Physics under the following schools:
School of Architecture |
School of Life Sciences |
School of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy |
School of Humanities & Languages |
School of Commerce & Management |
School of Mathematics, Statistics & Computational Sciences |
School of Engineering and Technology |
School of Social Science |
School of Earth Sciences |
School of Physical Sciences |
13. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Uttar Pradesh
Founded in 1920, Aligarh Muslim University is one of the oldest central universities in India. Its campus is spread over 467.6 hectares of land in the city of Aligarh and offers over 300 courses in traditional and modern streams of education.
The university has about 12 faculties consisting of 98 teaching departments, 15 centres and institutions, and three academies. Some of the departments at AMU include:
Applied Chemistry |
Law |
Applied Mathematics |
Linguistics |
Applied Physics |
Mass Communication |
Architecture |
Mathematics |
Biochemistry (Life Sciences) |
Mechanical Engineering |
Biochemistry (JNMC) |
Medicine |
Cardiothoracic Surgery |
Microbiology |
Chemical Engineering |
Modern Indian Languages |
Civil Engineering |
Petroleum Studies |
Computer Engineering |
Physics |
Computer Science |
Sanskrit |
Economics |
South African and Brazilian Studies |
Education |
South Asia and Indian Ocean Region Studies |
Electrical Engineering |
Statistics & Operations Research |
English |
Surgery |
Geography |
Urdu |
Hindi |
West Asian Studies and North African Studies |
History |
Wildlife Sciences |
Islamic Studies |
Zoology |
14. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Uttar Pradesh
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University was established in 1996. Named after Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, the university campus is situated on 250 acres of land on the Raebareli road, Lucknow. The BBAU schools offering different courses to students are as mentioned in the table below:
School for Ambedkar Studies |
School for Legal Studies |
School for Bio-Science Bio-Technology |
School for Management Studies |
School for Environmental Science |
School for Physical Sciences |
School for Education |
Department of Hindi |
School for Home Sciences |
University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET) |
School for Info. Science Technology |
Centre for Industry Institution Partnership Programme (CIIPP) |
15. Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Uttar Pradesh
Banaras Hindu University was founded in 1916 by the nationalist leader Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, along with the cooperation of personalities such as Dr. Annie Besant. The university is located in the city of Varanasi, and its campus is spread across 1,300 acres of land.
The university has a total of three institutes, 140 departments, 14 faculties, and four inter-disciplinary centres offering various UG, PG, and PhD courses to students in the fields of Science, Technology, Medicine, Humanities, Social Science, Fine Arts, and Performing Arts.
Different institutes at BHU include:
Science |
Management Studies |
Medical Sciences |
Environmental & Sustainable Development |
Agricultural Sciences |
Indian Institute of Technology |
Some major faculties at BHU include:
Arts |
Performing Arts |
Commerce |
Social Sciences |
Education |
Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vijnam |
Law |
Visual Arts |
16. University of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
University of Allahabad was established in 1887. Currently, the university comprises four faculties, 31 departments, 12 institutes, and eight constituent institutes. The 12 institutes of the university are mentioned below:
Institutes of Interdisciplinary Studies |
Centre of Globalization and Development Studies |
Centre of Bio-Technology |
M N Saha Centre of Space Studies |
Centre of Bio-Informatics |
K Banerjee Centre of Atmospheric & Ocean Sciences |
Centre for Film & Theatre |
Centre of Materials Science |
Centre for Gandhian Thoughts |
Centre of Environmental Sciences |
Centre for Women’s Studies |
Nano Technology Application Centre |
17. Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Uttarakhand
Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University initially came into existence as a state university in 1973. However, the university was upgraded to the status of a central university under the Central Universities Act 2009.
The university has a total of three campuses located in regions like Srinagar, Pauri, and Tehri. All three university campuses offer UG, PG, and PhD programmes to students in different disciplines. Schools of studies at Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University are mentioned in the table below:
School of Agriculture & Allied Sciences |
School of Arts, Communication & Languages |
School of Sciences |
School of Humanities & Social Sciences |
School of Commerce |
School of Law |
School of Earth Science |
School of Life Sciences |
School of Education |
School of Management |
School of Engineering & Technology |
-
|
18. Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University, Uttar Pradesh
RGNAU or Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University is an autonomous central university located at Fursatganj Airfield in Uttar Pradesh, India. The university is popular for aviation studies and research. The university is constituted by an Act of Parliament in 2013 and is under the administration of the Ministry of Civil Aviation of the Government of India. Meanwhile, the university was physically established in 2018.
Post Graduate Diploma in Airport Operations |
19. Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Uttar Pradesh
One of the popular central universities, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, is located in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. Established by the government of India through the Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University Act, 2014. The first academic session of the university commenced in July 2014.
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Aayushi is a BAJMC graduate and an ardent consumer of content with a keen passion for film, TV and books. She specialises in Mass Communication and Humanities related exams, entrances and courses.
Yes, Allahabad University accepts CUET-UG scores for admission to its UG courses. These courses include BA, BCom, BSc, BPA, BFA and Integrated BA LLB (Hons). All these courses are offered across multiple specialisations. To be eligible for this exam, all the UG aspirants must have completed their Class 12 with the relevant subjects. The details on the subject combinations required for different courses can be checked on the official website of CUET-UG.