How Many Universities Are There in India?

If you are a 12th pass student planning your higher studies, you might have wondered how many universities in India are actually there to choose from. Some websites say around 1,000, some say 1,100, and a few say more than 1,300. So which number is correct?

In this guide, we have checked the official University Grants Commission (UGC) website and government data to give you the latest and most accurate answer. You will also find the number of universities by type, a complete state-wise list, the count of IITs, IIMs and AIIMS, and simple tips to check whether a university is genuine.

Quick Answer: How Many Universities Are There in India?

As per the official UGC website (checked in September 2026), there are 1,301 UGC-listed universities in India. These include 57 Central Universities, 523 State Universities, 161 Deemed to be Universities and 560 State Private Universities. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of universities (114), followed by Gujarat (100) and Maharashtra (97). Apart from these, India also has Institutes of National Importance like IITs, IIMs and AIIMS, which can award degrees but are not counted as universities by UGC.

Total Number of Universities in India (2026)

India has one of the largest higher education systems in the world. The number of universities has grown very fast in the last ten years, mainly because many new state private universities and deemed universities have been set up.

In simple words, India has added more than 500 universities in about ten years. The same PIB note says India also had 52,081 colleges and 70,018 higher education institutions in total as of June 2025.

Note: The UGC figure and the PIB figure are a little different because they are counted on different dates and in slightly different ways. We explain this later in the article.

Number of Universities in India by Type

UGC divides universities into four main types. Here is the latest count from the UGC website, checked in September 2026.

What These Numbers Tell You

• Private universities are now the largest group. There are more state private universities (560) than government state universities (523).
• Central universities are few but important. Only 57 central universities exist, and most of them admit UG students through CUET-UG.
• Deemed universities are 161. These include well-known names like IISc Bengaluru, BITS Pilani and Manipal Academy of Higher Education.

1. Central Universities (57)

Set up by an Act of Parliament and funded by the Ministry of Education. Fees are generally low. Delhi has the most central universities (7), followed by Uttar Pradesh (6).

Examples: University of Delhi, JNU, BHU, Aligarh Muslim University, University of Hyderabad.

2. State Universities (523)

Set up by a State Act and funded by the state government. Most of them have many affiliated colleges. Uttar Pradesh (44) and Karnataka (43) have the most state universities.

Examples: University of Mumbai, University of Calcutta, Anna University, Osmania University.

3. Deemed to Be Universities (161)

Declared under Section 3 of the UGC Act by the Central Government. Tamil Nadu has the highest number of deemed universities (34), followed by Maharashtra (24).

Examples: IISc Bengaluru, BITS Pilani, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Symbiosis International.

4. State Private Universities (560)

Set up by a private trust, society or company through a State Act. Gujarat has the most private universities (66), followed by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh (54 each).

Examples: Ashoka University, Amity University, Shiv Nadar University, Lovely Professional University.

What Do 2(f) and 12B Mean?

On the UGC website, you will see terms like “2(f)” and “12B” next to a university’s name. In simple words:

• 2(f): The university is recognised by UGC. Its degrees are valid.
• 12B: The university is also eligible to receive grants (funds) from UGC or the Central Government.

For example, of the 523 state universities, 280 have both 2(f) and 12B status. For you as a student, 2(f) recognition is the most important thing to check.

State-Wise Number of Universities in India

Below is the complete state-wise list of universities in India, based on the UGC website (checked in September 2026). States are sorted from the highest to the lowest total.

Key Highlights From the State-Wise Data

• Uttar Pradesh has the most universities in India (114), followed by Gujarat (100), Maharashtra (97), Rajasthan (94) and Karnataka (92).
• Tamil Nadu leads in deemed universities with 34, the highest in the country.
• Gujarat leads in private universities with 66.
• Delhi has the most central universities (7) but no state private university.
• Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir have no private universities on the UGC list.
• Sikkim, a small state, has 29 universities, and 26 of them are private.
• Some smaller UTs like Lakshadweep and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu do not have any UGC-listed university.

What About IITs, NITs, IIMs and AIIMS?

Many students are surprised to know that IITs, NITs, IIMs and AIIMS are not counted in the UGC list of universities. They are called Institutes of National Importance (INIs) and are created by special Acts of Parliament. They can award their own degrees, and their degrees are fully valid and highly respected.

The same PIB note shows how fast these have grown. In 2014-15, India had only 16 IITs, 13 IIMs and 7 AIIMS.

Other INIs include IIITs, IISERs, NIPERs, Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPAs) and a few others. So if you add these institutes to the UGC list, the total number of degree-awarding institutions in India is even higher than 1,301.

Top 10 Universities in India (NIRF 2025)

With more than 1,300 universities, how do you know which ones are the best? The Ministry of Education’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranks them every year. Here are the top 10 in the NIRF 2025 University category.

Interesting point: the top 10 has 5 central universities, 4 deemed universities and 1 state university. So a good university can be of any type.

Note: NIRF 2026 rankings are expected soon. We will update this table once the new list is out.

Why Do Different Websites Show Different Numbers?

If you search “how many universities in India” on Google, you will find many different answers. This does not always mean someone is wrong. Here are the main reasons.

1. Different dates: New universities are added almost every month, especially private ones. A list from 2023 will show fewer universities than a list from 2026.
2. Different sources: UGC counts only universities recognised under its Act. Other government reports, like PIB notes and the AISHE survey, may count institutions in a slightly different way, for example by including Institutes of National Importance or institutions that responded to the survey.
3. Old data on websites: Many education websites do not update their numbers regularly, so they keep showing old counts.
4. Different categories: Some lists count open universities, agricultural universities or institutes separately, while others add them to the main total.

Our advice: For the most reliable and up-to-date number, always trust the official UGC website. That is why this article uses the UGC figure of 1,301 as the main answer.

How to Check the Official List of Universities

Before you take admission anywhere, you should confirm that the university is genuine. It takes only two minutes.

1. Go to the official UGC website: www.ugc.gov.in.
2. Open the Universities section from the menu.
3. Choose the type: Central, State, Deemed to be Universities or State Private Universities.
4. Select your state and search for the university’s name.
5. Check that it shows 2(f) status, which means it is recognised by UGC.
6. For courses like BTech, MBBS, LLB, BPharm or BEd, also check approval from AICTE, NMC, BCI, PCI or NCTE.

Beware of Fake Universities

Every year, the UGC also publishes a list of fake universities. These institutions use the word “university” but have no legal right to award degrees. As per Careers360, the UGC had listed 32 fake universities as of February 2026, with the highest number in Delhi (12), followed by Uttar Pradesh (4).

A degree from a fake university is not valid for government jobs, private jobs or higher studies. So always check the UGC website before paying any fee.

What These Numbers Mean for You as a Student

More universities means more choice, but also more confusion. Here is how to use this information smartly.

• You have options in almost every state. Even if you do not get into a top central university, there are good state, deemed and private universities near you.
• Private does not mean poor, and government does not always mean best. Compare each university on NAAC grade, NIRF rank, faculty, placements and fees.
• Check fees carefully. Private and deemed universities usually charge higher fees than central and state universities.
• CUET-UG opens many doors. Central universities and many state, deemed and private universities now accept CUET-UG scores, so one exam can give you many choices.

How Will This Grow in the Future?

The number of universities is expected to keep rising. The National Education Policy 2020 aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education from 26.3% (2018) to 50% by 2035. It also plans at least one large multidisciplinary higher education institution in or near every district by 2030. To reach these goals, India will need more universities and bigger institutions in the coming years.

Published by VidyaNirbhar.

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