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    Best Universities in India

    Universities in India 2023: The Higher Education sector has witnessed a tremendous increase in its institutional capacity in the years since Independence. In India, government-recognised universities and colleges are supported by the University Grants Commission, a body of the central government. Higher Education is the shared responsibility of both the Centre and the States. 

    The Central Government provides grants to UGC and establishes central universities in the country. The central government is also responsible for declaring educational institutions as “deemed-to-be university” on the recommendation of the UGC.

    There are both private and public universities in India's higher education system. Private universities are mostly supported by various organisations and societies, whereas public universities are supported by the Government of India and state governments.

    The No. 1 university in India is Indian Institute of Science in Karnataka. The higher education system in India includes both private and public universities. Here is the list of top universities in India with NIRF rankings.

    Top Universities in India List: NIRF India Rankings

    NIRF Rank

    University Name 

    State

    1

    Indian Institute of Science

    Karnataka

    2

    Jawaharlal Nehru University

    Delhi

    3

    Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

    New Delhi

    4

    Jadavpur University

    Kolkata

    5

    Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

    Tamil Nadu

    6

    Banaras Hindu University

    Uttar Pradesh

    7

    Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal

    Manipal

    8

    Calcutta University

    West Bengal

    9

    Vellore Institute of Technology

    Tamil Nadu

    10

    University of Hyderabad

    Telangana

    11

    AMU Aligarh - Aligarh Muslim University


    Uttar Pradesh

    12

    UNIPUNE (Pune University) - Savitribai Phule Pune University

    Pune

    13

    DU Delhi - University of Delhi

    Delhi

    14

    ICT Mumbai - Institute of Chemical Technology

    Mumbai

    15

    Bharathiar University, Coimbatore

    Tamil Nadu

    16

    Siksha 'O' Anusandhan, Bhubaneswar

    Odisha

    17

    Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai


    Mumbai

    18

    BITS Pilani - Birla Institute of Technology and Science

    Rajasthan


    19

    SRM University Chennai - SRM Institute of Science and Technology


    Chennai

    20

    Anna University, Chennai


    Chennai

    Type of universities

    There are four types of universities in India

    • Central University -  Established by an Act of Parliament and are under the purview of the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education. At present there are a total of 54 central universities in India.

    • State Universities - Run by the state government of each of the states and territories of India and are usually established by a local legislative assembly act.

    • Deemed University -  These universities are granted a status of autonomy granted by the Department of Higher Education on the advice of the UGC. 

    • Private University - These universities are approved by the UGC. They can grant degrees but they are not allowed to have off-campus affiliated colleges.

    List of Central Universities in India

    S.No.

    University

    State/Union Territory (Location)

    Year of Establishment

    1

    Aligarh Muslim University

    Uttar Pradesh (Aligarh)

    1920

    2

    Assam University

    Assam (Silchar)

    1994

    3

    Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University

    Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow)

    1996

    4

    Banaras Hindu University

    Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi)

    1916

    5

    Central Agricultural University^

    Manipur (Imphal)

    1993

    6

    Central University of Gujarat*

    Gujarat (Gandhinagar)

    2009

    7

    Central University of Haryana*

    Haryana (Mahendragarh)

    2009

    8

    Central University of Himachal Pradesh*

    Himachal Pradesh (Dharamshala)

    2009

    9

    Central University of Jammu*

    Jammu & Kashmir (Jammu)

    2011

    10

    Central University of Jharkhand*

    Jharkhand (Ranchi)

    2009

    11

    Central University of Karnataka*

    Karnataka (Gulbarga)

    2009

    12

    Central University of Kashmir*

    Jammu & Kashmir (Srinagar)

    2009

    13

    Central University of Kerala*

    Kerala (Kasaragod)

    2009

    14

    Central University of Orissa*

    Odisha (Koraput)

    2009

    15

    Central University of Punjab*

    Punjab (Bhatinda)

    2009

    16

    Central University of Rajasthan*

    Rajasthan (Ajmer)

    2009

    17

    Central University of South Bihar

    Bihar (Gaya)

    2009

    18

    Central University of Tamil Nadu*

    Tamil Nadu (Tiruvarur)

    2009

    19

    Dr. Hari Singh Gour University

    Madhya Pradesh (Sagar)

    1946 (2009)+

    20

    Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture University^

    Bihar (Pusa, Samastipur)

    1905 (2016)+

    21

    English and Foreign Languages University

    Telangana (Hyderabad)

    1958 (2007)+

    22

    Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya

    Chhattisgarh (Bilaspur)

    1983 (2009)+

    23

    Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University

    Uttarakhand (Srinagar)

    1973 (2009)+

    24

    Indian Maritime University^

    Tamil Nadu (Chennai)

    2008

    25

    Indira Gandhi National Open University^

    Delhi (New Delhi)

    1985

    26

    Indira Gandhi National Tribal University

    Madhya Pradesh (Amarkantak)

    2007

    27

    Jamia Millia Islamia

    Delhi (New Delhi)

    1920 (1988)+

    28

    Jawaharlal Nehru University

    Delhi (New Delhi)

    1969

    29

    Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya

    Maharashtra (Wardha)

    1997

    30

    Mahatma Gandhi Central University

    Bihar (Motihari)

    2016

    31

    Manipur University

    Manipur (Imphal)

    1985 (2005)+

    32

    Maulana Azad National Urdu University

    Telangana (Hyderabad)

    1998

    33

    Mizoram University

    Mizoram (Aizawl)

    2000

    34

    Nagaland University

    Nagaland (Lumami)

    1994

    35

    Nalanda University^

    Bihar (Rajgir, Nalanda)

    2010

    36

    National Sports University^

    Manipur (Imphal)

    2018

    37

    North Eastern Hill University

    Meghalaya (Shillong)

    1973

    38

    Pondicherry University

    Puducherry (Pondicherry)

    1985

    39

    Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University^

    Uttar Pradesh (Raebareily)

    2013

    40

    Rajiv Gandhi University

    Arunachal Pradesh (Itanagar)

    1985 (2007)+

    41

    Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University^

    Uttar Pradesh (Jhansi)

    2014

    42

    Sikkim University

    Sikkim (Gangtok)

    2007

    43

    South Asian University^

    Delhi (New Delhi)

    2010

    44

    Tezpur University

    Assam (Tezpur)

    1994

    45

    Tripura University

    Tripura (Agartala)

    1987

    46

    University of Allahabad

    Uttar Pradesh (Allahabad)

    1887

    47

    University of Delhi

    Delhi (New Delhi)

    1922

    48

    University of Hyderabad

    Telangana (Hyderabad)

    1974

    49

    Visva Bharati University

    West Bengal (Shantiniketan)

    1921

    50

    Central University of Andhra Pradesh

    Andhra Pradesh

    2018

    51

    The National Sanskrit University

    Andhra Pradesh

    1956

    52

    Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh

    Andhra Pradesh

    2019

    53

    Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University

    Delhi (New Delhi)

    1962

    54

    The Central Sanskrit University

    Delhi (New Delhi)

    1970

    +Granted Central University Status

    *Established by Central Universities Act, 2009

    ^Directly funded by Ministry of Education, GoI and not through UGC

    Admission process for the top universities in India

    The admission in the top universities in India takes place via various entrance exams. To appear for the following exams, the candidate must secure 50% marks in their Class 12th exams with concerned subjects being mandatory. The most popular university entrance exams in India are as follows: -

    Common University Entrance Test (CUET 2023) - The Common University Entrance Test or CUET is an online entrance test that serves as a platform for admission to 44 central universities and other universities. For CUET admission to various undergraduate courses, the CUET UG entrance test scores will be used. CUET is conducted by NTA in computer-based mode.

    Best Universities in India - Eligibility Criteria

    The eligibility criteria for the best universities in India are as follows:

    • Candidates will need to have passed Class 12 from a recognised board in Science stream to be admitted to bachelor’s degree programmes in the central universities.

    • For the General category, the candidate needs to secure a minimum of 50 percent in Class 12, for SC/ST, candidates need to have secured a minimum of 45 percent in Class 12 in order to be eligible for the CUET. For BTech programmes, the minimum aggregate for the General category candidates is 45 percent and that of the reserved category candidates is 40 percent.

    Top 10 best private universities in India 

    Top Universities in India (North Zone)

    Considering that India is a voluminous country, it makes sense to look for the best colleges in each zone for pursuing higher education. In order to help students find the right university in the north zone, we have compiled a list of the top universities based on a variety of factors. It is not necessary to get a job in the same field after completing these degrees. There is also the possibility of getting a job at other companies. When selecting a university, consider factors such as placement options, student-teacher ratio, infrastructure and equipment provided for study. 

    Name of the University

    NIRF Ranking

    Entrance Test Accepted

    Jawaharlal Nehru University

    2

    CUET UG 

    CUET PG

    Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

    3

    CUET UG

    CUET PG

    Banaras Hindu University

    6

    CUET UG

    CUET PG

    Aligarh Muslim University

    11

    CUET UG

    CUET PG

    University of Delhi

    13

    CUET UG

    CUET PG

    Top Universities in India (South Zone)

    South India is home to most of India's universities. In southern India, which is very similar to northern India, there is a great deal of passion for studying. Students from all over India travel to south India to take admission into the top engineering colleges in South India. For most aspirants, a reputed college is a primary educational goal. Considering alumni reviews to placements and faculty, universities in southern India offer the most premium opportunities. 

    Top Universities in India (East Zone)

    A potpourri of cultures and traditions can be found in the Eastern Zone of India. From intellectuals in West Bengal to mineral-rich states like Jharkhand, the land of the rising sun has much to offer. A number of excellent universities can be found in eastern India as well, just like in any other region of the country. It is no surprise that students from all over the country apply for admission in universities in East India, the land of maestros like Rabindranath Tagore and Raja Ram Mohan Roy. The following is a list of the top universities in India.

    Name of the University

    NIRF Ranking

    Entrance Test Accepted

    Jadavpur University

    4

    Jadavpur University entrance exam

    Calcutta University

    8

    CUET UG

    CUET PG

    University of Hyderabad

    10

    CUET UG

    CUET PG

    Siksha `O` Anusandhan

    16

    SAAT

    Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology



    20

    KIITEE

    Top Universities in India (West Zone)

    Several prominent universities are located in the West Zone, including some of the best in the country. Higher education in various specialisations is available in cities such as Mumbai, Surat, Pune, Jaipur etc. for students from all over the country. A major highlight of these universities is the excellent placement opportunities it offers to its students. 

    Name of the University

    NIRF Ranking

    Entrance Test Accepted

    Savitribai Phule Pune University

    12

    CUET UG

    CUET PG

    Institute of Chemical Technology

    14

    JEE Main, GATE, JRF, NET

    Homi Bhabha National Institute

    17

    Merit

    Symbiosis International

    32

    JEE Main, SET

    Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth

    41

    JEE Main

    Mumbai University

    45

    Merit

    Which are the most popular exams accepted by the best universities in India?

    CUET, CUET PG, AP PGCET, CAT, ICAR AIEEA, IIT JAM, AJEE, JEE Main, etc. are the most popular exams accepted by the best universities in India.

    Refer to the table for a detailed view:

    Exams

    Conducting Body

    CUET

    National Testing Agency

    CUET PG

    National Testing Agency

    AP PGCET

    Sri Venkateswara University Tirupati


    Frequently Asked Questions

    Question: Which are the top 5 universities in India? 

     Answer: IISc Bangalore, JNU Delhi, JMI Delhi, Jadavpur University, Kolkata and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore. 

    Question: What are some of the job profiles that can be pursued after completion of degrees from the top colleges in India? 

    Answer: Design engineer, developer, professor and information technology officer, investment banker, etc. 

    Question: Which university in India is the best for B.A in English Honours? 

    Answer: JNU Delhi, Delhi University, JMI , Banaras Hindu University and Jamia Hamdard. 

    • Which is the best private university in India? 

    Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, VIT Vellore, and Manipal academy are some of the best private universities in India. 

    Question: Is clearing CUET mandatory for admission in central universities? 

    Answer: Yes, it is mandatory for students to clear the CUET exam to get admission in the central university of India.

    Question: What is the average course fee for B.Sc in JNU? 

    Answer: The fee ranges from anywhere between 600 to 982 rupees for the entire course of B.Sc. 

    Question: Which entrance exam needs to be cleared for a degree of Bachelors in Arts in the best universities in India?

    Answer: CUET needs to be nailed by the candidates to pursue any degrees in the Bachelors in Arts. 

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      AIIMS Bhopal - All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal

      Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
      5.0/51 Reviews
      Public/Govt
      MBBS
      300+ Brochures downloaded so far
      300+ Brochures downloaded so far

      AIIMS Bhubaneswar - All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhubaneswar

      Bhubaneshwar, Odisha
      4.8/53 Reviews
      Public/Govt
      MBBS
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far

      AIIMS Deoghar - All India Institute of Medical Sciences Deogarh

      Deoghar, Jharkhand
      Public/Govt
      MBBS
      • Exams : NEET
      • Fees : 6.76 k
      100+ Brochures downloaded so far
      100+ Brochures downloaded so far

      AIIMS Jodhpur - All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur

      Jodhpur, Rajasthan
      4.6/54 Reviews
      Public/Govt
      MBBS
      1000+ Brochures downloaded so far
      1000+ Brochures downloaded so far

      AIIMS Mangalagiri - All India Institute of Medical Sciences Mangalagiri

      Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh
      Public/Govt
      MBBS
      100+ Brochures downloaded so far
      100+ Brochures downloaded so far

      AIIMS Raipur - All India Institute of Medical Sciences Raipur

      Raipur, Chhattisgarh
      3.0/51 Reviews
      Public/Govt
      MBBS
      300+ Brochures downloaded so far
      300+ Brochures downloaded so far

      AIIMS Rishikesh - All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh

      Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
      5.0/52 Reviews
      Public/Govt
      MBBS
      1000+ Brochures downloaded so far
      1000+ Brochures downloaded so far

      AMU Aligarh - Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

      Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
      Public/Govt

      AMU Aligarh - Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

      Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh Public/Govt 4.7/5189 Reviews
      NIRF Ranking: 11Careers360 Ranking: 13
      NIRF Ranking: 11Careers360 Ranking: 13
      B.Com Hons
      2000+ Brochures downloaded so far
      2000+ Brochures downloaded so far

      ANU Guntur - Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur

      Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
      Public/Govt

      ANU Guntur - Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur

      Guntur, Andhra Pradesh Public/Govt 4.8/583 Reviews
      NIRF Ranking: 151-200
      NIRF Ranking: 151-200
      PG Diploma in Yoga for Human Excellence
      300+ Brochures downloaded so far
      300+ Brochures downloaded so far

      APGSU Shimla - Alakh Prakash Goyal Shimla University, Shimla

      Taradevi, Himachal Pradesh
      Private
      BA LLB Integrated
      100+ Brochures downloaded so far
      100+ Brochures downloaded so far

      Alagappa University - Alagappa University, Karaikudi

      Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu
      Public/Govt

      Alagappa University - Alagappa University, Karaikudi

      Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu Public/Govt
      NIRF Ranking: 28Careers360 Ranking: 33
      NIRF Ranking: 28Careers360 Ranking: 33
      B.Ed
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far

      Allahabad University - University of Allahabad Allahabad

      Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
      Public/Govt
      BCA
      1500+ Brochures downloaded so far
      1500+ Brochures downloaded so far

      Amity University Gurgaon - Amity University, Gurugram

      Gurugram, Haryana
      Private

      Amity University Gurgaon - Amity University, Gurugram

      Gurugram, Haryana Private 4.3/5154 Reviews
      NIRF Ranking: 101-150
      NIRF Ranking: 101-150
      B.Sc Nursing
      1000+ Brochures downloaded so far
      1000+ Brochures downloaded so far

      Annamalai University - Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar

      Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu
      Public/Govt

      Annamalai University - Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar

      Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu Public/Govt 4.0/510 Reviews
      NIRF Ranking: 101-150Careers360 Ranking: 76
      NIRF Ranking: 101-150Careers360 Ranking: 76
      B.P.Ed
      1000+ Brochures downloaded so far
      1000+ Brochures downloaded so far

      BAOU Ahmedabad - Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Ahmedabad

      Ahmedabad, Gujarat
      Public/Govt
      B.Ed
      • Fees : 40 k
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far

      BASE University - Bengaluru Dr BR Ambedkar School of Economics University, Bengaluru

      100+ Brochures downloaded so far
      100+ Brochures downloaded so far

      BBAU Lucknow - Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow

      Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
      Public/Govt

      BBAU Lucknow - Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow

      Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Public/Govt 4.2/512 Reviews
      NIRF Ranking: 55
      NIRF Ranking: 55
      B.Com Hons
      1500+ Brochures downloaded so far
      1500+ Brochures downloaded so far

      BHU Varanasi - Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

      Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
      Public/Govt

      BHU Varanasi - Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

      Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh Public/Govt 4.3/5337 Reviews
      NIRF Ranking: 6Careers360 Ranking: 7
      NIRF Ranking: 6Careers360 Ranking: 7
      BA Hons
      5000+ Brochures downloaded so far
      5000+ Brochures downloaded so far

      BITS Pilani - Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

      Pilani, Rajasthan
      Private

      BITS Pilani - Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

      Pilani, Rajasthan Private 4.5/5233 Reviews
      NIRF Ranking: 18Careers360 Ranking: 3
      NIRF Ranking: 18Careers360 Ranking: 3
      B.Pharma Hons
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far

      BPSMV Sonipat - Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur Kalan

      Khanpur Kalan, Haryana
      4.7/53 Reviews
      Public/Govt
      BA LLB
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far

      BRAOU Hyderabad - Dr BR Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad

      Hyderabad, Telangana
      3.5/52 Reviews
      Public/Govt
      B.Com
      1000+ Brochures downloaded so far
      1000+ Brochures downloaded so far

      BSDU Jaipur - Bhartiya Skill Development University, Jaipur

      Jaipur, Rajasthan
      Private
      B.Voc Manufacturing Skills
      100+ Brochures downloaded so far
      100+ Brochures downloaded so far

      BU Bhopal - Barkatullah University, Bhopal

      Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
      Public/Govt

      BU Bhopal - Barkatullah University, Bhopal

      Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Public/Govt 3.3/517 Reviews
      B.P.Ed
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far

      BU Jhansi - Bundelkhand University, Jhansi

      Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
      Public/Govt

      BU Jhansi - Bundelkhand University, Jhansi

      Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh Public/Govt 3.9/562 Reviews
      B.Sc Agriculture Hons
      300+ Brochures downloaded so far
      300+ Brochures downloaded so far

      Bangalore University - Bangalore University, Bangalore

      Bangalore, Karnataka
      3.3/53 Reviews
      Public/Govt

      Bangalore University - Bangalore University, Bangalore

      Bangalore, Karnataka Public/Govt 3.3/53 Reviews
      NIRF Ranking: 64
      NIRF Ranking: 64
      MA Kannada
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far
      600+ Brochures downloaded so far

      Bharathiar University - Bharathiar University, Coimbatore

      Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
      3.8/54 Reviews
      Public/Govt

      Bharathiar University - Bharathiar University, Coimbatore

      Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu Public/Govt 3.8/54 Reviews
      NIRF Ranking: 15Careers360 Ranking: 55
      NIRF Ranking: 15Careers360 Ranking: 55
      B.P.Ed
      300+ Brochures downloaded so far
      300+ Brochures downloaded so far
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