- Date:
- 1922 - present
- Areas Of Involvement:
- public education
- Notable Alumni:
- Amitabh Bachchan
- Shah Rukh Khan
- Gautam Gambhir
- Madhur Jaffrey
- Kumari Mayawati
- Related People:
- Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
University of Delhi
News •
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What is the University of Delhi?
The University of Delhi is a federally-recognized institution of higher learning in Delhi, India. Established in 1922, it evolved from a residential university to an affiliating and teaching body with numerous affiliated colleges across Delhi.
The university has faculties of arts, education, applied sciences, law, medicine, and technology. Instruction is offered in both English and Hindi. A number of India’s distinguished jurists and political figures have graduated from the University of Delhi, among them Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Sucheta Kriplani, and Sheila Dikshit. World leaders such as Aung San Suu Kyi, Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq, and Harini Amarasuriya also studied at the university. As of 2022, the university admits undergraduate students on the basis of the Common University Entrance Test, and total enrollment is about 700,000.
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Where is the University of Delhi located?
The University of Delhi is a state-controlled institution of higher education located in Delhi, India. It has evolved into a teaching and affiliating body and is now designated as one of India’s federal universities, with jurisdiction over numerous colleges scattered throughout the metropolitan area of greater Delhi. The University of Delhi consists of 16 faculties and more than 80 colleges spread across 2 campuses: North and South, with plans to construct two more—East and West. The North Campus is located in North Delhi, while the South Campus consists of a collection of colleges situated in different neighborhoods of South Delhi. The Zakir Husain Delhi College is located in central Delhi and is not attached to either the North or the South campus.
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When was the University of Delhi established?
The University of Delhi was founded in 1922 as a residential university. It was created through an act of the Central Legislative Assembly governing British Raj-era India.
St. Stephen’s, Hindu, and Ramjas—were the three original constituent colleges that switched their affiliation from the University of the Punjab to the new University of Delhi. Zakir Husain Delhi College became affiliated in 1925. All four colleges existed long before the University of Delhi was established.
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What kinds of courses and degrees does the University of Delhi offer?
The University of Delhi, established in 1922, has grown into a teaching and affiliating body with numerous affiliated colleges and research institutions. It is now one of India’s federal universities with jurisdiction throughout Delhi.
The university has 16 faculties, including arts, education, applied sciences, law, medicine, mathematics, management, and technology. Instruction is offered in both English and Hindi. There are over 80 colleges spread across its North and South campuses, with plans for East and West campuses.
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What are some famous colleges that are part of the University of Delhi?
The University of Delhi has more than 80 colleges across its North and South campuses. The three original constituent colleges that transferred from the University of the Punjab in 1922 were St. Stephen’s College, Hindu College, and Ramjas College. Zakir Husain Delhi College was affiliated in 1925. Other prominent institutions include the Delhi School of Economics, Hansraj College, Miranda House, Lady Shri Ram College, Gargi College, and Sri Venkateswara College.
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Why is the University of Delhi considered important in India’s higher education system?
The University of Delhi, established in 1922, stands as a centrally funded institution with numerous affiliated colleges throughout Delhi. Originally a residential university, it has evolved into a teaching and affiliating body, now serving as a federal university in India. A number of India’s distinguished jurists and political figures have graduated from the University of Delhi, among them Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (president of India, 1974–77), Sucheta Kriplani (India’s first woman chief minister, of Uttar Pradesh state, 1963–67), and Sheila Dikshit (chief minister of Delhi, 1998–2013). The university maintains faculties in arts, education, law, medicine, management, science, and technology, among others, with instruction provided in both English and Hindi. Total enrollment is about 700,000.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
University of Delhi, state-controlled institution of higher education located in Delhi. Founded in 1922 as a residential university, it developed into a teaching and affiliating body and is now designated as one of India’s federal universities, with jurisdiction over numerous colleges scattered throughout the metropolitan area of greater Delhi. There are numerous institutions affiliated with it, including schools of medicine, nursing, education, agriculture, and technology as well as the Delhi School of Economics, the Institute of Economic Growth, the Delhi School of Social Work, and the School of International Studies for women. The university has faculties of arts, education, applied sciences, law, medicine, Indian medicine, mathematics, management, music and fine arts, sciences, social sciences, and technology. Instruction is in English and Hindi.
History
The University of Delhi was created in 1922 by an act of the Central Legislative Assembly, the lower house of the Imperial Legislative Council that governed British raj-era India. The three constituent colleges—St. Stephen’s, Hindu, and Ramjas—transferred their affiliation from the University of the Punjab to the new establishment. The Zakir Husain Delhi College was affiliated in 1925. All four colleges predate the University of Delhi by many years.
As of 2022 undergraduate students are admitted on the basis of the Common University Entrance Test. Total enrollment is about 700,000. Honorary positions on the governing body of the university are occupied by the president of India (visitor of the university), the vice president (chancellor of the university), and the chief justice of the Supreme Court (pro vice-chancellor of the university).
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Colleges and institutions
The University of Delhi consists of 16 faculties and more than 80 colleges spread across 2 campuses—North and South—with plans to construct two more—East and West. The North Campus, located in North Delhi, houses the three constituent colleges as well as several other prominent institutions, such as the Delhi School of Economics, Hansraj College, and Miranda House. The South Campus consists of a collection of colleges—Lady Shri Ram College, Gargi College, Sri Venkateswara College, and others—situated in different neighborhoods of South Delhi. The Zakir Husain Delhi College, which was the fourth institution to be affiliated with the university, is located in central Delhi and is not attached to either the North or the South campus.
Notable alumni
A number of India’s distinguished jurists and political figures have graduated from the University of Delhi, among them Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (president of India, 1974–77), Sucheta Kriplani (India’s first woman chief minister, of Uttar Pradesh state, 1963–67), and Sheila Dikshit (chief minister of Delhi, 1998–2013). World leaders such as Aung San Suu Kyi (Myanmar politician), Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq (president of Pakistan, 1978–88), and Harini Amarasuriya (prime minister of Sri Lanka, appointed in 2024) also studied at the university.
Other noteworthy alumni include historian Ramachandra Guha; authors Anita Desai, and Amitav Ghosh; and actors Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. Economists Amartya Sen and Manmohan Singh (prime minister of India, 2004–14) were professors at the Delhi School of Economics.