Amazing Facts About Indian Colleges and Universities

Colleges and universities play a vital role in the development of an individual’s personality. A nation’s education system reflects its strength. In modern times, the importance of education cannot be underestimated as people are expected to be well educated in a developed country. In addition, the lack of literacy leads to chaos because illiterate individuals lack the ability to think rationally. Therefore, education is the key to making better decisions and living a healthier life.

India has the third largest higher education system in the world. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) is responsible for overseeing the functions of all Indian universities through the main regulatory body, the Universities Grants Commission (UGC).

College/university is often considered a place where lifelong memories are made. There are some best colleges in india that offer a variety of training courses. Find out some of the coolest facts about Indian colleges and universities through this article.

Oldest university in the world

Nalanda University is known as the oldest university in the world. It was founded in Taxila, also known as Takshashila, between 600-500 BC. At the time, the university offered 68 courses to its students. It was the first university in the world to accommodate both teachers and students. Nalanda University was originally established during the Gupta Dynasty era, as mentioned in the writings of the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (Hiuen-Tsang).

In 2006, the 11th President of India, the late APJ Abdul Kalam, proposed to revive the first university in India. On September 1, 2014, the university started with 15 students on a temporary campus in Rajgir, Bihar, India. George Yeo, former minister of Singapore, was appointed as the new chancellor of Nalanda University on July 6, 2015.

The world’s largest residential university by campus size

With over 20,000 students, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is one of the largest residential universities in Asia. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya founded the university in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, in 1916. The main campus of BHU is spread over 1,300 acres of land donated by Kashi Naresh (hereditary ruler of Banaras).

The university has six institutes and 132 departments, as well as 60 hostels. dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (second president of India) was vice chancellor of BHU until January 1948.

Maximum reservation for minorities in India

Jamia Milia Islamia, located in Delhi, is the only university in India that offers 50% reservation for Muslim students. This public central university was originally established in Aligarh by Muslim nationalist leaders.

The university was established with the intention of keeping Muslim education in the hands of Muslims and completely free from outside control. It has one of the best libraries in India, with thousands of books, research papers, journals, etc. Jamia Milia Islamia students are popularly known as Jamiaiites.

The world’s largest open university by student enrollment

Indira Gandhi Open University (IGNOU) is administered by the central government and has more than 4 million students. It is a distance learning institution in New Delhi named after the former Indian Prime Minister.

IGNOU is known for its high standard of distance learning in India. The university owns 21 schools, 67 regional centers, 2667 study centers and 29 overseas centers in 15 countries. Students can choose from 226 academic programs, including certificates and diplomas.

First academic institution with a personal airport

Isn’t it surprising to know that one of the best colleges in India has a personal airport? Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, is India’s first academic institution to have a personal airport. The airport is known as IIT Kanpur Airport or Kalyanpur Airport. This facility is available to the Department of Aerospace Engineering of the university.

First Women’s College in Asia

Located in Kolkata, Bethune College is the first women’s college in Asia. The college was originally founded by John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune as a school in Kolkata and developed into a college in 1879. Moreover, Bethune College is the first college in Asia established as a secular western university with many programs.

Only university with private beach

This fact about the best colleges in India will surely blow your mind! There is only one university in India with its own beach and lighthouse, and that is the National Institute of Technology in Karnataka. Established in 1960, NIT Karnataka is one of the best public engineering universities in India. Built on 250 acres of land on the Arabian Sea, it is considered an institution of national importance.

India’s first agricultural university

GB Pant Agricultural University, inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru on November 17, 1960, is India’s first agricultural university. Currently, Dr Tej Pratap is the Vice-Chancellor of the University. The university is known to have transformed agricultural education in India by introducing several new concepts in the field of agriculture.