Central Universities in India: Full List of MHRD, UGC Approved Central University

What are Central Universities?

Central universities are those universities that are established by an act of parliament and are under the purview of the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education. The Central University of India have been categorised under the Center (Union Government), given that the funds are allocated by the Ministry of Education through the UGC. Central University's ranking is based on NIRF.

How many Central Universities are there in India?

There are as many as 54 central universities established in India, of which Allahabad University is the oldest of all, being established in 1887. The Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh is the youngest of all, established in 2019. But for three states/union territories of India, at least one central university has been established in every state, barring Goa. The ranking for Central Universities in India is based on the NIRF and it is done every year.

State-wise distribution of Central Universities in India

Of all the states and union territories, New Delhi tops that chart with as many as seven, the highest number of central universities, followed closely by Uttar Pradesh with six central universities and Bihar with four central universities. Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana contribute with their three universities to the national number of central universities. The total number of central universities in India are 54.

Top 10 Central Universities in India

Here is the list of top 10 central universities in India:

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

List of Central Universities in India

+Granted Central University Status
*Established by Central Universities Act, 2009
^Directly funded by Ministry of Education, GoI and not through UGC

Which are the Top 5 Universities in CUET?

There are number of universities in India that provides CUET courses. Various central, state, deemed and private universities has taken part in the CUET every year. Some of the central universities are BHU, JNU, JMI, Central Universities of Andhra and many others. Willing candidates can check the full list of the universities through the website of NTA.

Best Central Universities in India

Given below are the few top central universities in India list based on the NIRF 2025 ranking published by Ministry of Education. These universities are included in the five top universities in India, according to the NIRF ranking 2025. Jawaharlal Nehru University is the top central university in India according to NIRF 2025 ranking. Here is a list of the top central university in India rank wise.

Top Central Universities in India

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What is CUET?

The Common University Entrance Test, or CUET, is a common entrance test for admission to UG courses at all central universities. The scores of CUET entrance test are used for admission to state, private, and deemed-to-be universities in the case of UG admissions.

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CUET Score College Predictor