New Delhi:  There are 799 universities in India as on 31 March 2016 as per All India Survey on Higher Education Status (AISHE-2015-16). Out of these 799 universities in India, there are 43 Central Universities (CS), which are set up by the Central Universities Act. These CUs are dream destinations for student community due to quality higher education and affordability factor.

Among 43 CUs, many of these find top ranks in the India Ranking 2017 report, released by the HRD Ministry on 03 April 2017. This ranking is popularly known as National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2017. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is the top ranked Central University which secures second position in University Category of NIRF 2017. Banaras Hindu University (BHU), another central university, bags third rank in the University list. University of Hyderabad stands at the seventh spot in the overall university list.

University of Delhi at the eight spot in the overall university list emerges as fourth highest ranked CUs.  Hence, the top four ranked CUs are as followed: JNU (1), BHU (2) and University of Hyderabad (3), and University of Delhi (4). Among India’s top ten universities, four CUs find place.

Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia emerge as the 11^th and 12^th, respectively rank holders in the overall university list. Visva-Bharati University, West Bengal and Osmania University, Hyderabad are placed 19^th and 23th spots, respectively. Hence, 9 CUs feature in the top 25 universities as per NIRF 2017. Kerala University at 29^th place in the university list is now top tenth ranked Central University.

Tezpur Universit, a central university based in Assam, is placed at 31th position in the overall university list. Panjab University (33), Pondicherry University (37), North Eastern Hill University, Shilong (48), and Mizoram University (58), are other top ranked Central Universities, which feature in India’s Best University list and remain within top 15 CUs.

University of Jammu (63), University of Kashmir (73), Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh             (76), Rajasthan University (79),  Assam University-Silchar (92), and University of Allahabad, Allahabad (95) are other top ranked central universities which are in the Top 100 Best Universities  as per NIRF 2017.

Hence Top Central Universities in India as per NIRF 2017: 

1. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
2. Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
3. University of Delhi
4. University of Hyderabad
5.  University of Delhi
6. Aligarh Muslim University
7. Jamia Millia Islamia
8. Visva-Bharati University, West Bengal
9. Osmania University, Hyderabad
10. Kerala University
11. Tezpur Universit
12. Panjab University
13. Pondicherry University
14. North Eastern Hill University, Shilong
15. Mizoram University
16. University of Jammu
17. University of Kashmir
18. Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh
19. Rajasthan University
20. Assam University-Silchar
21. University of Allahabad, Allahabad