Banasthali Vidyapith is a private deemed-to-be university located in Banasthali, Tonk district, Rajasthan, India. It is one of the largest fully residential institutions for women in the world, offering education from the primary level through doctoral studies. The university is known for its distinctive educational philosophy known as the Panchmukhi Shiksha (Five-fold Education), which integrates physical, practical, aesthetic, moral and intellectual development.
| Type | Private deemed university (women only) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 6 October 1935 |
| Founders | Hiralal Shastri and Ratan Shastri |
| Location | Banasthali, Tonk district, Rajasthan, India |
| Deemed university status | 1983 |
| Motto language | Sanskrit |
| Affiliation | University Grants Commission (UGC) |
The institution was established in memory of Shanta, the young daughter of Hiralal Shastri and Ratan Shastri, who died in 1935. The founders, both active in the Indian freedom movement and committed to social reform, conceived an educational centre dedicated to the all-round development of women. The campus grew out of a small school into a full-fledged residential educational township.
The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes across faculties including arts, sciences, social sciences, education, mathematical sciences, management, fine arts, music, home science, law and engineering. Banasthali was among the early Indian institutions to provide engineering education exclusively for women.
Admission to several professional programmes is conducted through the Banasthali Vidyapith Aptitude Test, while specific programmes use national entrance examinations.
The pedagogical model that shapes campus life is built on five components:
The campus, spread across a rural setting in Banasthali on the Jaipur–Kota route, includes academic blocks, hostels, laboratories, an aerodrome used for flying training, sports grounds, a hospital and temples. The town of Banasthali developed largely around the institution.
Banasthali Vidyapith is widely recognised as a pioneering institution in women's higher education in India. Its alumni include figures in politics, civil services, science, sports, arts and academia. The model of integrating Gandhian ideals with modern professional education has influenced the development of women-only educational institutions in the country.