Central Universities in India 2026: Complete List of Central Universities

Central Universities in India 2026: Complete List of Central Universities

Central Universities in India: Complete List, States and Key Details

India has a network of Central Universities established through Acts of Parliament to provide higher education with national-level academic standards, research opportunities and multidisciplinary programmes. These institutions are funded and administered primarily by the Government of India through the Ministry of Education.

For students looking for central universities in India, understanding the university list, location, recognition status and available academic opportunities is important before choosing an institution.

What is a Central University?

A Central University is a university established by an Act of Parliament and generally funded and regulated by the Central Government. These universities are distinct from state universities, private universities and deemed-to-be universities.

Central Universities offer undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and other higher-education programmes across areas such as engineering, humanities, sciences, management, law, agriculture, languages, social sciences and professional studies.


How Many Central Universities Are There in India?

There are 57 Central Universities in India. These include well-known institutions such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Delhi, Banaras Hindu University, Aligarh Muslim University, University of Hyderabad, Jamia Millia Islamia and Indira Gandhi National Open University.

List of Central Universities in India

The following table provides the complete list of 57 Central Universities, along with their state/UT and UGC status.

S.No. Central University State/UT UGC Status
1 Aligarh Muslim University Uttar Pradesh 2(f) & 12B
2 Assam University Assam 2(f) & 12B
3 Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Uttar Pradesh 2(f) & 12B
4 Banaras Hindu University Uttar Pradesh 2(f) & 12B
5 Central Agricultural University Manipur 2(f) & 12B
6 Central Sanskrit University Delhi 2(f) & 12B
7 Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh 2(f) & 12B
8 Central University of Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh 2(f) & 12B
9 Central University of Gujarat Gujarat 2(f) & 12B
10 Central University of Haryana Haryana 2(f) & 12B
11 Central University of Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh 2(f) & 12B
12 Central University of Jammu Jammu & Kashmir 2(f) & 12B
13 Central University of Jharkhand Jharkhand 2(f) & 12B
14 Central University of Karnataka Karnataka 2(f) & 12B
15 Central University of Kashmir Jammu & Kashmir 2(f) & 12B
16 Central University of Kerala Kerala 2(f) & 12B
17 Central University of Odisha Odisha 2(f) & 12B
18 Central University of Punjab Punjab 2(f) & 12B
19 Central University of Rajasthan Rajasthan 2(f) & 12B
20 Central University of South Bihar Bihar 2(f) & 12B
21 Central University of Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu 2(f) & 12B
22 Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya Madhya Pradesh 2(f) & 12B
23 Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University Bihar 2(f) & 12B
24 English & Foreign Languages University Telangana 2(f) & 12B
25 Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya Gujarat 2(f) & 12B
26 Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya Chhattisgarh 2(f) & 12B
27 Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University Uttarakhand 2(f) & 12B
28 Indian Maritime University Tamil Nadu 2(f) & 12B
29 Indira Gandhi National Open University Delhi 2(f) & 12B
30 Jamia Millia Islamia Delhi 2(f) & 12B
31 Jawaharlal Nehru University Delhi 2(f) & 12B
32 Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya Maharashtra 2(f) & 12B
33 Mahatma Gandhi Central University Bihar 2(f) & 12B
34 Manipur University Manipur 2(f) & 12B
35 Maulana Azad National Urdu University Telangana 2(f) & 12B
36 Mizoram University Mizoram 2(f) & 12B
37 Nagaland University Nagaland 2(f) & 12B
38 Nalanda University Bihar 2(f) & 12B
39 National Sanskrit University Andhra Pradesh 2(f) & 12B
40 National Sports University Manipur 2(f) & 12B
41 North Eastern Hill University Meghalaya 2(f) & 12B
42 Pondicherry University Puducherry 2(f) & 12B
43 Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University Uttar Pradesh 2(f) & 12B
44 Rajiv Gandhi University Arunachal Pradesh 2(f) & 12B
45 Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University Uttar Pradesh 2(f) & 12B
46 Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University Telangana 2(f) & 12B
47 Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University Delhi 2(f) & 12B
48 Sikkim University Sikkim 2(f) & 12B
49 Sindhu Central University Ladakh 2(f) & 12B
50 South Asian University Delhi 2(f) & 12B
51 Tezpur University Assam 2(f) & 12B
52 The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Madhya Pradesh 2(f) & 12B
53 Tripura University Tripura 2(f) & 12B
54 University of Allahabad Uttar Pradesh 2(f) & 12B
55 University of Delhi Delhi 2(f) & 12B
56 University of Hyderabad Telangana 2(f) & 12B
57 Visva-Bharati West Bengal 2(f) & 12B

Why Choose a Central University?

National-level institutions: They are established under Central legislation and have students from across India.
Wide range of programmes: Students can find programmes in sciences, arts, humanities, languages, management, agriculture and specialised disciplines.
Research opportunities: Many Central Universities have dedicated research departments and doctoral programmes.
Government-supported education: Central Universities receive significant government support for academic and infrastructure development.
Competitive admissions: Admission requirements vary by university and programme, with many institutions using national-level or university-specific admission processes.
Academic diversity: Students can study in a multicultural environment with peers from different parts of the country.


Entrance Exams for Admission to Central Universities in India

Admission to Central Universities depends on the course and level of study. Students should check the admission notification of the particular university because not every programme necessarily follows the same admission route.

CUET UG – For Undergraduate Admission

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate programmes in Central Universities and other participating universities across India.


CUET PG – For Postgraduate Admission

For postgraduate programmes, students can appear for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-PG) conducted by NTA. CUET-PG provides a common entrance platform for admission to postgraduate programmes in Central and other participating universities and institutions.