Jawaharlal Nehru University

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), established in 1969 in New Delhi, is India's premier research-intensive central university and ranked #2 among universities in NIRF 2024. Holding NAAC A++ accreditation, JNU is internationally recognised for excellence in Social Sciences, Humanities, International Studies, Languages, and Natural Sciences. The university's 1,000-acre heavily forested campus at Munirka in South Delhi is home to approximately 9,000 students, with an unusually high PhD-to-total-student ratio reflecting its research emphasis. Postgraduate and doctoral admissions are conducted through CUET-PG for most programmes, supplemented by JNU entrance tests for select disciplines. JNU charges among the most subsidised fees in Indian higher education — as low as ₹300–₹600 per semester — embodying its founding commitment to accessible education. Iconic schools include the School of International Studies (SIS), School of Social Sciences (SSS), School of Language, Literature & Culture Studies (SLL&CS), School of Life Sciences, School of Physical Sciences, and Centre for Historical Studies. JNU's campus culture is renowned for intellectual vibrancy, with active student theatre (Jashan-e-Bahar), film screenings, poetry evenings, music jam sessions at Ganga Dhaba, and a strong tradition of student political engagement. Hostels like Periyar, Kaveri, and Godavari are central to the close-knit residential community that defines the JNU experience.