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Manavta
22 August, 2025
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Have you ever checked the “FSSAI” mark before buying the food? If yes, why did you do so? This is because you want to ensure that the food meets the quality and safety check criteria. Similarly, there are many marks and recognitions that the government of every nation mandates for quality checks of different products. This also applies to educational institutions. In India, the University Grants Commission provides recognition to the various academic institutions.
It signifies that the education offered by a certain college or university meets the essential requirements of quality education. It is also a type of recognition provided on behalf of the Indian government, making the institute and its courses legitimate & valuable. This blog discusses the top UGC approved universities list in India. We have listed the top 10 of different types of universities functioning in India. But, before that, let us understand UGC and its functioning. Dive in!
UGC stands for University Grants Commission. Established in 1945 as a commission, it was an activity of the government of India. Initially, the purpose of UGC was to supervise the functioning of 3 central universities. It included the University of Delhi, Banaras Hindu University, and Aligarh Muslim University. In the beginning, it was named the University Education Commission.
It was renamed as the University Grants Commission in 1949. The Indian government has provided the authority to UGC to approve specific grants to higher education institutes (HEIs) & universities across the nation. Since then, UGC has played a critical role in the higher education system of India. The authority ensures the standards of teaching, exams, & research are met by the universities & colleges. Based on this evaluation, UGC allocates and provides grants to the institutes as recognition.
Learn about the importance of UGC recognition provided to institutes. Gain broader insights about UGC regulations and functioning. Here it goes:
Authenticity & Value: UGC-approved colleges foster legal recognition by the Government of India, making your degree widely accepted and legitimate.
Ensures High Academic Standards: UGC obligates institutes to follow specific standards to maintain the quality of education. This includes pedagogy, faculty, examinations, and more.
Widely Accepted Courses: A degree from a UGC-entitled university is highly recognised by employers, not only in India but also globally.
Financial Aid & Scholarships: UGC-recognised institutes provide financial aid and scholarships to need-based, merit-based, and reserved category candidates, adhering to government guidelines to support disadvantaged groups.
Faculty Reliability: UGC ensures that faculty members are well-trained and qualified, maintaining teaching quality across institutes.
Ensures Eligibility for Government Institutes & Jobs: Many job roles under central and state governments, including positions in educational institutions, require degrees from UGC-recognised institutes.
Deemed to be University is a special status granted to several institutions in India. UGC-approved universities are those that have recognition by the UGC. They can either be central, private, open, or deemed to be universities. Let us go through the key differences for a better understanding:
| Deemed to Be University | UGC Approved University |
|---|---|
| They are granted special autonomous university status. | They can be any university with approval & recognition by UGC. |
| The Ministry of Education + UGC grants “Deemed to Be” status. | UGC alone has the authority to grant approvals. |
| Freedom to design their own curriculum, fees, exams, etc. | Autonomy varies for every central, state, private, & open university. |
| E.g. — DY Patil University, Symbiosis International University, etc. | E.g. — Delhi University, Amity University, etc. |
Central universities are established by an act of Parliament. They are public universities, which are funded by the central government. In India, central universities function under the Department of Higher Education. Currently, there are 57 UGC-approved central universities in India. Here is a list of the top ten:
| List of UGC Approved Universities | Location |
|---|---|
| Aligarh Muslim University | Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh |
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | Delhi |
| University of Delhi | Delhi |
| University of Allahabad | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh |
| Tezpur University | Assam |
| Maulana Azad National Urdu University | Hyderabad, Telangana |
| Central University of Kerala | Kerala |
| Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
| Central University of Punjab | Bathinda, Punjab |
State universities are those funded and founded by the state governments. These universities follow the guidelines issued by their state government and function accordingly. There are 504 UGC-approved state universities in India. Take a quick look at the top ten state universities:
| List of UGC Approved Universities | Location |
|---|---|
| A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
| Bharathiar University | Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu |
| Delhi Technological University | Delhi |
| Mumbai University | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Bangalore University | Bangalore, Karnataka |
| Kakatiya University | Warangal, Telangana |
| Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha Vishwavidyalaya | Delhi |
| Osmania University | Telangana |
| Savitribai Phule Pune University | Pune, Maharashtra |
| Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University | Firozpur, Punjab |
UGC provides recognition to online and distance learning institutes via the Distance Education Bureau (DEB). Several top open universities are also the central universities approved by UGC. Here are the top 10 distance/online institutions in India approved by the University Grants Commission:
| List of UGC Approved Universities | Location |
|---|---|
| Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) | Delhi |
| U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University (UPRTOU) | Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh |
| Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University | Nasik, Maharashtra |
| Vardhman Mahaveer Open University | Kota, Rajasthan |
| Uttarakhand Open University | Haldwani, Uttarakhand |
| Jain University Online | Bangalore, Karnataka |
| Lovely Professional University Online | Phagwara, Punjab |
| Chandigarh University Online | Mohali, Punjab |
| Amity University Online | Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh |
| ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education | Hyderabad, Telangana |
Deemed to be University / Deemed University is a special status provided by “Ministry of Education” to several higher education institutes in India. They can either be private or public universities. As compared to regular/central/state universities, Deemed Universities have more autonomy on their fee structure, curriculum, admission, exams, etc. They can enrol students without the permission of the UGC. According to UGC, there are 145 Deemed to be Universities in India. We have filtered the top ten most popular ones:
| List of UGC Approved Universities | Location |
|---|---|
| Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) | Vellore, Tamil Nadu |
| Symbiosis International University | Pune, Maharashtra |
| SRM Institute of Science & Technology | Tamil Nadu |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth | Pune, Maharashtra |
| Birla Institute of Technology | Ranchi, Jharkhand |
| Birla Institute of Technology & Science | Pilani, Rajasthan |
| D.Y. Patil University | Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Christ University | Bangalore, Karnataka |
| Dayalbagh Educational Institute | Agra, Uttar Pradesh |
UGC provides recognition to private universities across states in India. However, they are not funded by central or state governments. State private universities are free to design their curriculum and admission processes. But they must adhere to their state government and UGC guidelines to function smoothly. Moreover, UGC currently has 517 approved state private universities across the nation. Check out the top 10 ones:
| List of UGC Approved Universities | Location |
|---|---|
| Amity University | Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh |
| Bennet University | Noida, Uttar Pradesh |
| Chandigarh University | Mohali, Punjab |
| Chitkara University | Patiala, Punjab |
| DY Patil International University | Akurdi, Pune, Maharashtra |
| Dayanand Sagar University | Bangalore, Karnataka |
| GLA University | Mathura, Uttar Pradesh |
| Galgotias University | Noida, Uttar Pradesh |
| Graphic Era Hill University | Dehradun, Uttarakhand |
| Lovely Professional University | Phagwara, Punjab |
UGC grants a status of “UGC-recognised” to educational institutions. It includes all the universities and colleges of India, from the private to the public sectors. Colleges and universities which UGC does not approve do not hold government approval apart from IIMs and IITs. IIMs and IITs are established by the Ministry of Education of the Government of India. Thus, they do not generally hold UGC recognition but have the same value. For the rest of the institutions across the nation, you must ensure UGC approval before taking admission. It is mandatory if you want to apply for government jobs in the future. Even in the private sector, it is necessary to ensure the authenticity of institutions from which the degree is earned.
UGC approved universities are credible and legitimate. They have government recognition, which makes their degree courses widely accepted in India and abroad. UGC approved universities also help you fulfil the eligibility for various government jobs and admission to various top institutes.
The university, which has recognition by the University Grants Commission, is a UGC approved university.
Yes, UGC recognition ensures that the education provided by the university is legitimate and accepted widely across the nation. It provides legal value to the courses.
UGC approved universities hold value across the private and government sectors. They are also globally accepted as they are approved by the government and have legal value.
Degrees earned from non-UGC-approved colleges may not be recognised for further admission in government-based institutions and jobs. Several private companies may also not accept a degree which is not recognised by the government.
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