List of Central Universities in India (State-Wise):Rankings, Fees & Admission Process
List of Central Universities in IndiaThe list of central universities in India includes universities located across all Indian states, from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh and from Jammu and Kashmir to Tamil Nadu. Central universities, also known as the "Union Universities" in India, are directed and operated by the Department of Higher Education (DHE) in the Ministry of Education. The list of central universities issued by the UGC includes 52 central universities.
Uttar Pradesh has 6 central universities, which is the largest number of central universities in a state. The first central university in India is the Banaras Hindu University, which was established in 1916. The best central universities in India are spread across different states and include Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), University of Delhi, Aligarh Muslim University, Pondicherry University, Central University of Rajasthan, and others.
The yearly tuition fees of the central universities in India range from ₹3,000 to ₹3,00,000. Admissions to the courses at the central government colleges under these universities are either based on merit in the qualifying exams or through national-level entrance exams like CUET UG and CUET PG. To give you a quick overview, here is a blog that will shed light on the list of all the central universities in India.
List of Central Universities in India
Check the state-wise list of central universities in the table below, along with their locations and tuition fees.
State | University Name | Location (City/Town) | Tuition Fee (Per Year, Approx) |
Andhra Pradesh | Anantapuram | ₹6,000 - ₹18,000 | |
Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh | Vizianagaram | ₹3,000 - ₹12,000 | |
The National Sanskrit University | Tirupati | ₹5,000 - ₹15,000 | |
Arunachal Pradesh | Rajiv Gandhi University | Itanagar | ₹3,500 - ₹8,000 |
Assam | Silchar | ₹8,000 - ₹15,000 | |
Tezpur University | Sonitpur | ₹8,000 - ₹25,000 | |
Bihar | Central University of South Bihar | Gaya | ₹4,000 - ₹7,500 |
Mahatma Gandhi Central University | East Champaran | ₹5,000 - ₹10,000 | |
Nalanda | ₹65,000 - ₹80,000 | ||
Samastipur | ₹10,000 - ₹30,000 | ||
Chhattisgarh | Bilaspur | ₹9,000 - ₹24,000 | |
Delhi | New Delhi | ₹3,000 - ₹12,600 | |
New Delhi | ₹7,000 - ₹30,000 | ||
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | New Delhi | ₹2,000 - ₹7,500 | |
New Delhi | ₹10,000 - ₹20,000 | ||
Gujarat | Central University of Gujarat | Gandhinagar | ₹9,000 - ₹14,000 |
Haryana | Mahendergarh | ₹5,000 - ₹12,000 | |
Himachal Pradesh | Kangra | ₹5,000 - ₹12,000 | |
Jammu & Kashmir | Samba | ₹8,000 - ₹16,000 | |
Srinagar | ₹16,000 - ₹32,000 | ||
Jharkhand | Ranchi | ₹4,000 - ₹12,000 | |
Karnataka | Kalaburagi | ₹5,000 - ₹14,000 | |
Kerala | Kasaragod | ₹6,000 - ₹15,000 | |
Ladakh | Sindhu Central University | Leh (Melongthang) | — |
Madhya Pradesh | Sagar | ₹5,000 - ₹12,000 | |
Amarkantak | ₹6,000 - ₹10,000 | ||
Maharashtra | Wardha | ₹4,000 - ₹9,000 | |
Manipur | Imphal | ₹10,000 - ₹25,000 | |
Imphal | ₹7,000 - ₹18,000 | ||
Koutruk | ₹14,000 - ₹25,000 | ||
Meghalaya | Shillong | ₹6,000 - ₹11,000 | |
Mizoram | Aizawl | ₹9,000 - ₹16,000 | |
Nagaland | Lumami | ₹8,000 - ₹14,000 | |
Odisha | Koraput | ₹8,000 - ₹19,000 | |
Puducherry | Pondicherry University | Kalapet (Puducherry) | ₹15,000 - ₹40,000 |
Punjab | Bathinda | ₹9,000 - ₹16,000 | |
Rajasthan | Central University of Rajasthan | Ajmer | ₹9,000 - ₹16,000 |
Sikkim | Gangtok | ₹8,000 - ₹15,000 | |
Tamil Nadu | Central University of Tamil Nadu | Tiruvarur | ₹7,000 - ₹18,000 |
Chennai | ₹2,25,000 - ₹3,00,000 | ||
Telangana | Hyderabad | ₹8,000 - ₹20,000 | |
Telangana | Hyderabad | ₹12,000 - ₹23,000 | |
Hyderabad | ₹6,000 - ₹13,000 | ||
Tripura | Agartala | ₹7,000 - ₹14,000 | |
Uttarakhand | Srinagar | ₹5,000 - ₹19,000 | |
Uttar Pradesh | Aligarh Muslim University | Aligarh | ₹4,000 - ₹14,000 |
Lucknow | ₹9,000 - ₹18,000 | ||
Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | ₹5,000 - ₹12,000 | |
Prayagraj | ₹6,000 - ₹15,000 | ||
Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University | Raebareli | ₹70,000 - ₹1,20,000 | |
Jhansi | ₹14,000 - ₹35,000 | ||
West Bengal | Santiniketan | ₹5,000 - ₹14,000 |
State-Wise Distribution of Central Universities in India
The following table shows the state-wise distribution of central universities through the number of central universities in each state.
State/Union Territory | Number of Central Universities |
Andhra Pradesh | 3 |
Arunachal Pradesh | 1 |
Assam | 2 |
Bihar | 4 |
Chhattisgarh | 1 |
Delhi | 4 |
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 |
Uttar Pradesh | 6 |
Uttarakhand | 1 |
West Bengal | 1 |
Benefits of Studying in Central Universities in India
Here is a list of some important characteristics or benefits of central universities:
- They can organize their admission procedure independently
- They can set up their own curriculum or syllabus
- They can conduct their own examinations
- They can award degrees/diplomas to the students
Admission Process for Central Universities in India through CUET
You can gain admission to Central universities in India by clearing the CUET UG or CUET PG and taking the following steps:
- Research the CUET cutoff requirements of your preferred universities before applying to them.
- Visit the official website of the university you want to apply to.
- Register on the university’s website, fill out the application form, upload the required scanned documents, and pay the application fee.
- The university will release the merit list containing selected candidates based on the CUET score requirements.
Top 10 Central Universities in India
Given below are the top 10 central universities in India, which are located across various states, along with their tuition and hostel fees.
University Name | Location/State | Tuition Fee (Per Year, Approx) | Hostel Fee (Per Year, Approx) |
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | New Delhi | ₹2,000 - ₹7,500 | ₹8,000 - ₹15,000 |
University of Delhi (DU) | New Delhi | ₹10,000 - ₹20,000 | ₹9,000 - ₹18,000 |
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | ₹5,000 - ₹12,000 | ₹7,000 - ₹14,000 |
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) | New Delhi | ₹7,000 - ₹30,000 | ₹10,000 - ₹18,000 |
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) | Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh | ₹4,000 - ₹14,000 | ₹6,000 - ₹12,000 |
University of Hyderabad (UoH) | Hyderabad, Telangana | ₹8,000 - ₹20,000 | ₹5,000 - ₹10,000 |
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University | Pusa, Bihar | ₹10,000 - ₹30,000 | ₹7,000 - ₹15,000 |
Pondicherry University | Puducherry | ₹15,000 - ₹40,000 | ₹30,000 - ₹35,000 |
Central University of Punjab | Bathinda, Punjab | ₹9,000 - ₹16,000 | ₹8,000 - ₹14,000 |
Central University of Rajasthan | Ajmer, Rajasthan | ₹9,000 - ₹16,000 | ₹7,000 - ₹13,000 |
Key Attributes of Central Universities
In conclusion, here are some of the key aspects you need to know about central universities in India:
- Receive more funds from the central government.
- Eligibility standards in the top central universities in India are high and mandate a good academic background.
- Get better quality of candidates, especially via central-level tests from all over the nation.
- Major priority for the study of central universities on Master's and Doctoral programs (Ph.D.)
- Research Scholars get better pay.
- Each and every university has its own chancellor and vice-chancellor; the chancellor can be the President of India.
- Better orientation.
- Higher course fees compared to state universities.
- The curriculum or syllabus is comprehensive and well-created.
List of Central Universities in India: FAQs
Ques: What is the comparison of central universities vs state universities in India?
Ans: Since central universities are under the central government, they have more funding and thus more resources than state universities. You can expect better and more modern facilities in them. However, the specific level of difference between central and state universities depends on the two universities you are comparing.
Ques: What is the comparison of the Central University of Hyderabad vs Delhi University?
Ans: In terms of reputation and placement opportunities, the University of Delhi is a better option. On the other hand, the University of Hyderabad has lower fees compared to the University of Delhi and offers a good alternative for learning opportunities.
Ques: What are the benefits of studying in a central university?
Ans: The benefits of studying in a central university are related to the benefits that central universities have. This includes better facilities and equipment, better reputation, and better placement opportunities, among others.
Ques: What are the scholarships for students in central universities?
Ans: Students in central universities can apply for central government scholarships available through the National Scholarship portal (NSP). This includes schemes for SC/ST/OBC students and merit-based scholarships. Based on their eligibility, they can also apply to state government scholarship schemes.
Ques: Which are the Indian central universities with the best research output?
Ans: Banaras Hindu University, Aligarh Muslim University, University of Delhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru University are some of the central universities in India with the best research output.
Ques: What is the comparison of Central Universities vs IITs for engineering?
Ans: IITs have a greater reputation in terms of engineering studies and are also owned by the state government. Prominent Central universities like DU, AMU, JNU, and others can be good alternatives to IITs for Engineering studies.
Ques: Are central university degrees valued abroad?
Ans: Depending on the specific course and degree you gain from an Indian central university, it can have significant value abroad. The UGC accreditation and approval from the central government add to the value of the degrees from Indian central universities for foreign universities and recruiters.
Ques: What are the new central universities established recently in India?
Ans: Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh, Central University of Andhra Pradesh, Central Sanskrit University, and Sindhu Central University are some of the recently established central universities in India.
Ques: What is the reservation policy for admissions in central universities?
Ans: The central government’s reservation policies are applicable for admission to central universities. As per the CUET reservation criteria, 10% of the seats are reserved for EWS, and 27% of the seats are reserved for OBC. The seat reservation percentages for SC and ST candidates are around 15% and 7.5% respectively.
Ques: Which are the best central universities for Humanities and Arts?
Ans: Jawaharlal Nehru University, Aligarh Muslim University, Banaras Hindu University, University of Delhi, and Tezpur University are some of the best options among Indian central universities for Humanities and Arts courses.