Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is a public central university located in New Delhi, India. Established by an Act of the Parliament of India, it is named after Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. The university is widely regarded for its programmes in the social sciences, international studies, languages, and the sciences, and is known for its residential campus and academic culture centred on research and interdisciplinary study.
| Name | Jawaharlal Nehru University |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | JNU |
| Type | Public central university |
| Location | New Delhi, India |
| Named after | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Established by | Act of Parliament (Jawaharlal Nehru University Act, 1966) |
| Country | India |
The university was created through the Jawaharlal Nehru University Act passed by the Parliament of India in 1966. It was envisaged as a central university with a strong emphasis on advanced research and an integrated approach to the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Academic activity began in the following years, and the institution rapidly developed a distinct identity rooted in interdisciplinary scholarship.
The campus is situated in South Delhi, spread across a large green area on the southern ridge. The residential character of the campus, with student hostels, faculty housing, and academic blocks within the same precinct, has shaped the everyday academic and intellectual life of the university.
JNU is organised into Schools and Special Centres rather than the more conventional faculty–department model. The Schools cover broad fields of study, with each School comprising Centres dedicated to specific disciplines or themes. Notable Schools at the university include:
The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, MPhil, and PhD programmes, with a particularly strong concentration of research scholars across its disciplines.
As a central university, JNU is funded primarily through the University Grants Commission. It is headed by a Vice-Chancellor, supported by Rectors, a Registrar, and statutory bodies such as the Executive Council, the Academic Council, and the Court. The Visitor of the university is the President of India, in line with the convention for central universities.
JNU has played a notable role in Indian higher education, especially in shaping research and teaching in the social sciences and international studies. Its alumni include scholars, civil servants, diplomats, politicians, journalists, and writers who have contributed to public life in India and abroad. The university's student politics, debates, and cultural life have also made it a frequently discussed institution in the broader public sphere.
The main campus is located in New Delhi, near the Aravalli ridge area of the city. It includes academic Schools and Centres, central library facilities, laboratories, hostels for students, and residential quarters for faculty and staff. The campus also hosts cultural and sporting facilities used by the university community.