Menu

Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya

Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), formerly known as the University of Indore, is a state public university located in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is an affiliating and teaching university serving the Indore division and is named after Ahilyabai Holkar, the 18th-century Maratha queen of the Holkar dynasty who ruled the Malwa region from Maheshwar.

Key facts

Name Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya
Former name University of Indore
Type State public university
Location Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
Named after Ahilyabai Holkar
Affiliation University Grants Commission (UGC)

Background

The university operates as the principal higher-education affiliating body for colleges across the Indore region of Madhya Pradesh. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes through its teaching departments and a large network of affiliated colleges. Academic activity spans the arts, sciences, commerce, management, law, education, engineering, pharmacy, and computer applications.

History

The institution was established as the University of Indore and was later renamed Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya in honour of Ahilyabai Holkar, reflecting the cultural and historical association of Indore with the Holkar rulers. Over time, the university expanded from a primarily affiliating body to one that hosts numerous on-campus teaching schools and research centres.

Campus and organisation

The university maintains a main campus, commonly known as Takshashila Campus, along with the older R. N. Tagore Marg campus area in Indore. Teaching is organised through "schools of studies" devoted to specific disciplines, including management, computer science, economics, electronics, instrumentation, statistics, physics, chemistry, life sciences, languages, education, journalism, law, and social sciences. The Institute of Management Studies (IMS) and the School of Computer Science are among the better-known teaching departments.

Academics

  • Undergraduate, postgraduate, M.Phil., and Ph.D. programmes across faculties of arts, science, commerce, education, law, and management.
  • Affiliated colleges spread across districts of the Indore division, including general degree colleges and professional institutions.
  • Research centres and university teaching departments offering specialised programmes in emerging areas such as biotechnology, electronics, and future studies.

Significance

As one of the major state universities of Madhya Pradesh, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya plays a central role in higher education in the Malwa region. It conducts examinations, awards degrees, and sets curricula for a substantial number of affiliated colleges, while also serving as a research hub for western Madhya Pradesh.

References