Central Universities in India: List of 57 UGC-Recognised Institutions

Q: What is the difference between a State University and a Central University?

State University is a "local" university run by your state government. Central University is a "national" university run by the government of India, open to all of India.

Author :

Shilpa Nigam

Last Updated on : 15 Jul 2026 03:50PM

Central universities are government universities that are set up by the Central Government and funded through the UGC. In 2026, there are 57 operational central universities across India, which are leading with high academic standards and with lower tuition fees.

The admissions at these institutions are highly competitive and conducted through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET).

They are the most trusted universities in India as they offer quality education with affordable fees and experienced faculty. They also offer good placement support.

Students who are looking for a recognised degree program with strong academic support can join a central university for the best career outcomes.

Geographic Distribution and State Leaders

State with Highest Concentration: Uttar Pradesh has 6 central universities, followed by Delhi and Bihar.
Special Institutions: The Manipur and Tamil Nadu states have specialised central entities such as the Central Agricultural University (Manipur), the National Sports University and the Indian Maritime University (Tamil Nadu).

Admission Process

For Undergraduate and Postgraduate degree courses admission, students need to take the CUTE UG and CUET PG exams, respectively. These exams are conducted through the National Testing Agency (NTA).
For PhD programs, the universities take UGC NET or GATE exams with an Interview round after selection.

The Central Universities in India: Top List Overview

Sr.No	Type	Name of the University	Address	Zip	state	Status
1	Central	Aligarh Muslim University	Zainul Abidin Road, Aligarh	202001	Uttar Pradesh	2(f) & 12(B)
2	Central	Assam University	Silchar, Dargakona, Cachar	788001	Assam	2(f) & 12(B)
3	Central	Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University	Vidya Vihar, Rae Bareily Road, Lucknow	226025	Uttar Pradesh	2(f) & 12(B)
4	Central	Banaras Hindu University	Varanasi	221005	Uttar Pradesh	2(f) & 12(B)
5	Central	Central Agricultural University	Lamphelpat, Imphal West,	795004	Manipur	2(f) & 12(B)
6	Central	Central Sanskrit University	56-57 Institutional Area, Janakpuri	110058	Delhi	2(f) & 12(B)
7	Central	Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh	Kondakarakam (PO), Cantonment (SPO), Vizianagaram	535003	Andhra Pradesh	2(f) & 12(B)
8	Central	Central University of Andhra Pradesh	Transit Campus, JNTU IT Incubation Centre, Chinmaya Nagar, Anantapur	515002	Andhra Pradesh	2(f) & 12(B)
9	Central	Central University of Gujarat	Near Jalaram Temple, Sector – 29, Gandhinagar,	382030	Gujarat	2(f) & 12(B)
10	Central	Central University of Haryana	Jant-Pali, Mahendergarh	123029	Haryana	2(f) & 12(B)
11	Central	Central University of Himachal Pradesh	PO Box No. 21, Distt - Kangra, Dharamshala	176215	Himachal Pradesh	2(f) & 12(B)
12	Central	Central University of Jammu	Rahya-Suchani (Bagla), District Samba, Jammu	181143	Jammu and Kashmir	2(f) & 12(B)
13	Central	Central University of Jharkhand	Vill- Cheri Manatu, P.O- Kamre, P.S- Kanke, Brambe, Ranchi	835222	Jharkhand	2(f) & 12(B)
14	Central	Central University of Karnataka	Kadaganchi, Aland Road, Aland Taluk, Gulbarga	585311	Karnataka	2(f) & 12(B)
15	Central	Central University of Kashmir	Green Campus, Duderhama, Ganderbal, Kashmir	191201	Jammu and Kashmir	2(f) & 12(B)
16	Central	Central University of Kerala	Tejaswini Hills, Periye (PO), Kasaragod (DT)	671316	Kerala	2(f) & 12(B)
17	Central	Central University of Odisha	Sunabeda, Post: NAD, Dist. Koraput	763004	Odisha	2(f) & 12(B)
18	Central	Central University of Punjab	VPO-Ghudda,Distt. Bathinda	151401	Punjab	2(f) & 12(B)
19	Central	Central University of Rajasthan	NH-8, Bandar Sindri, Kishangarh Dist-Ajmer	305801	Rajasthan	2(f) & 12(B)
20	Central	Central University of South Bihar	SH-7, Gaya-Panchanpur Road, Village–Karhara, Post- Fatehpur, P.S. –Tekari, District-Gaya	824236	Bihar	2(f) & 12(B)
21	Central	Central University of Tamil Nadu	Neelakudi, Tiruvarur	610005	Tamil Nadu	2(f) & 12(B)
22	Central	Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya	Sagar, Gour Nagar, Patharia Hills	470003	Madhya Pradesh	2(f) & 12(B)
23	Central	Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University	Pusa, Samastipur	848125	Bihar	2(f) & 12(B)
24	Central	English & Foreign Languages University	Near Tarnaka, Hyderabad	500007	Telangana	2(f) & 12(B)
25	Central	Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya	Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Lalbaug, Vadodara	390004	Gujarat	2(f) & 12(B)
26	Central	Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya	Main Campus, Koni, Bilaspur	495009	Chhattisgarh	2(f) & 12(B)
27	Central	Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University	Madhi Chauras, Srinagar, Garhwal	246174	Uttarakhand	2(f) & 12(B)
28	Central	Indian Maritime University	East Coast Road, Semmencherry, Chennai	600119	Tamil Nadu	2(f) & 12(B)
29	Central	Indira Gandhi National Open University	Maidan Garhi, New Delhi	110068	Delhi	2(f) & 12(B)
30	Central	Jamia Millia Islamia	Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Marg, Jamia Nagar	110025	Delhi	2(f) & 12(B)
31	Central	Jawaharlal Nehru University	New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi	110067	Delhi	2(f) & 12(B)
32	Central	Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya	Gandhi Hills, Post- Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha	442001	Maharashtra	2(f) & 12(B)
33	Central	Mahatma Gandhi Central University	Camp Office: Opposite Circuit House, Motihari, Distt: East Champaran	845401	Bihar	2(f) & 12(B)
34	Central	Manipur University	Canchipur, Imphal, Manipur	795003	Manipur	2(f) & 12(B)
35	Central	Maulana Azad National Urdu University	Gachibowli, Hyderabad	500032	Telangana	2(f) & 12(B)
36	Central	Mizoram University	Post Box No. 190, Aizwal	796009	Mizoram	2(f) & 12(B)
37	Central	Nagaland University	HQ Campus: Lumami, Zunheboto, Kohima Campus: Meriema	798627	Nagaland	2(f) & 12(B)
38	Central	Nalanda University	Chabila Road, Rajgir, Nalanda	803116	Bihar	2(f) & 12(B)
39	Central	National Sanskrit University( previously Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth)	Near Balaji Colony, Tirupati	517507	Andhra Pradesh	2(f) & 12(B)
40	Central	National Sports University	2nd floor, Olympic Bhawan, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Imphal	795001	Manipur	2(f) & 12(B)
41	Central	North Eastern Hill University	NEHU Campus, Shillong, Mawlai	793022	Meghalaya	2(f) & 12(B)
42	Central	Pondicherry University	R Venkat Raman Nagar, Kalapet, Puducherry	605014	Puducherry	2(f) & 12(B)
43	Central	Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University	Near Fursatganj Airfield, Fursatganj, Dstt. Raebareli	229302	Uttar Pradesh	2(f) & 12(B)
44	Central	Rajiv Gandhi University	Rono Hills, P.O. Doimukh, Itanagar	791112	Arunachal Pradesh	2(f) & 12(B)
45	Central	Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University	NH-75, Near Pahuj, Dam, Gwalier Road, Jhansi	284003	Uttar Pradesh	2(f) & 12(B)
46	Central	Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University	Jakaram Village, Mulugu District, Hyderabad	500046	Telangana	2(f) & 12(B)
47	Central	Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University	Katwaria Sarai, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi	110016	Delhi	2(f) & 12(B)
48	Central	Sikkim University	6th Mile, Samdur P.O., Tadong, Gangtok	737102	Sikkim	2(f) & 12(B)
49	Central	Sindhu Central University	Melongthang Leh-Ladakh, Near FRL	194101	Ladakh	2(f) & 12(B)
50	Central	South Asian University	Rajpur Road, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi	110068	Delhi	2(f) & 12(B)
51	Central	Tezpur University	P.O. -Napaam, Tezpur, Dist. Sonitpur	784028	Assam	2(f) & 12(B)
52	Central	The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University	Makal Sadan, Amarkantak, Village-Lalpur, Dist-Anuppur	484887	Madhya Pradesh	2(f) & 12(B)
53	Central	Tripura University	NH8, University Rd, Suryamani Nagar, Agartala	799130	Tripura	2(f) & 12(B)
54	Central	University of Allahabad	Senate House, University Road, Old Katra, Prayagraj	211002	Uttar Pradesh	2(f) & 12(B)
55	Central	University of Delhi	North Delhi Campus, Near Mall Road	110007	Delhi	2(f) & 12(B)
56	Central	University of Hyderabad	P.O. Central University Campus, PROFESSOR C.R. RAO ROAD, GACHIBOWLI, Hyderabad	500046	Telangana	2(f) & 12(B)
57	Central	Visva Bharati	PO : Santiniketan,Birbhum	731235	West Bengal	2(f) & 12(B)

Why Choose a Central University in India?

Central Universities in India are among the best options for students who want an affordable, quality education with a legit degree. These universities offer experienced faculty, with the latest digital infrastructure, and research facilities with strong placement support.

The admissions are primarily based on the CUET entrance test. If students are looking for an institution that combines both academic excellence and long-term career opportunities, a Central University is a smart choice.