List of Private Universities in India

A Private University is an independent institute that sets its own goals and policies. In India, private universities are operated under the UGC (Establishment and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) 2003 Regulations. As per the UGC act and these rules, private universities are set by an act of a local legislative assembly and recorded by the UGC in the Gazette upon obtaining the act.

As approved by the ruling of the Supreme Court of India, recognition by the UGC is needed for the university to perform. Also, per the 2003 regulations, the UGC sends councils to examine private universities and issues their inspection report.

The UGC issues and regularly revise the lists of private universities. The latest UGC consolidated list of universities lists 410 private universities. Private universities were set up in 24 states out of the 28 states of India and in none of the 8 UTs (union territories).

Section 12 (B) of the UGC Act of 1956 also gives the UGC the liberty to "allocate and disburse, out of the Fund of the Commission, grants to Universities" As such, the UGC may announce a private university as "Included under 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956". Updates to these orders are done in conferences of the UGC and issued in the minutes.

The most recent list, issued by the UGC on 8 October 2021, records 15 private universities as enclosed under 12(B).

In simple words, Private universities are approved by UGC. However, such academies do not run on central or state accounts. They can award diplomas/degrees but cannot have off-campus colleges or affiliate with a college/institution. They can set up the off-campus center (s) within the concerned state after their existence of 5 years and with the earlier consent of the UGC, declares the UGC website. Unlike state and central universities which have a ‘Chancellor’ as the authority, a private university is always ruled by a ‘President’ or ‘Chairperson’.

Private universities need to follow UGC rules and regulations for functions. The UGC regularly sends panels to review Private universities.

The salient attributes will give you a quick review of what private universities can do or what authorities provide to private universities:

• Private Universities can conduct their own admission process
• They can determine their own Curriculum/syllabus
• They can conduct their own examinations
• They can also grant diplomas/degrees to their students’

In India, The state with the most private universities is Rajasthan, with 52. There are no private universities in the states of Goa and Kerala, nor in any of the Union territories of India:

You can refer to the following table of the list of private universities to know the name of universities along with their state and town:

Private universities in India are fulfilling the need for quality higher education. Also, they are connecting students to the globe of shiningly bright careers, in India.

Now think wisely. Your wish to be the best, to make your identity and challenge conventions is possible only at a private university. And private universities represent that excellence. Because what you receive is more than only degrees!

Choose pragmatically…choose to be future-ready

All the best!