North Maharashtra University (NMU) is a state public university located in Jalgaon, in the Khandesh region of the state of Maharashtra, India. The university was renamed Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University (KBCNMU) in honour of the noted Marathi poet Bahinabai Chaudhari. It serves as the principal affiliating, teaching and research university for the northern districts of Maharashtra.
| Name | North Maharashtra University (Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University) |
|---|---|
| Type | State public university |
| Location | Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India |
| Region served | Khandesh (Jalgaon, Dhule and Nandurbar districts) |
| Language | Marathi, English, Hindi |
| Affiliation | University Grants Commission (UGC) |
The university was established to cater to the higher education needs of the northern districts of Maharashtra, an area that had earlier been served by the University of Pune. Its jurisdiction covers the districts of Jalgaon, Dhule and Nandurbar, a predominantly agrarian region known for banana cultivation, cotton, and tribal communities in the western parts. The main campus is situated on the outskirts of Jalgaon city.
The university operates through teaching departments on its Jalgaon campus and a network of affiliated colleges spread across the three districts of its jurisdiction. Academic programmes are organised under faculties covering science and technology, commerce and management, humanities, education, and interdisciplinary studies. The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes, and conducts research across the sciences, social sciences and applied disciplines.
The university was renamed in honour of Bahinabai Chaudhari (Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari), an illiterate poet from the Khandesh region whose Ahirani-Marathi verse on rural life is a celebrated part of Marathi literature. The renaming reflects the cultural identity of the region the university serves.
As the principal university for Khandesh, NMU plays a central role in expanding access to higher education in a region with a substantial rural and tribal population. It coordinates examinations, curriculum and research for affiliated colleges across its three-district jurisdiction, and supports regional development through teaching and outreach activities.