University of Allahabad

History

The foundation stone of the Muir Central College was laid by Governor-General of India, Lord Northbrook on 9 December 1873. The college was named after Sir William Muir, Lt. Governor of United Province, who was the key person in its foundation. The building was designed by William Emerson, who also designed Victoria Memorial in Kolkata and Crawford Market in Mumbai in a combination of Indo-Saracenic, Egyptian and Gothic styles.

Initially, it functioned under the University of Calcutta and later, on 23 September 1887, the University of Allahabad was established, making it the fifth university established in colonial India after Calcutta university, Bombay university, Madras university, and Lahore's Punjab university.

It began as an affiliating and examining body for graduate and postgraduate degrees with a classical orientation and the responsibility for secondary education as well. Between 1891 and 1922, Government Science College, Jabalpur, the oldest science college of India was affiliated to the university. By 1904 the university established its own teaching departments and instituted doctoral research programs. The University Senate hall was opened by the lieutenant-governor, Sir John Hewett, in 1912.

In 1921, with the announcement of the Allahabad University Act of 1921, the Muir Central College merged with the university, which was reorganized as a unitary teaching and residential university. Over the next few years its affiliated colleges were transferred to Agra University and the task of conducting secondary-level examinations was relocated.

In 1951, the university (while maintaining its fundamental unitary character) recognized certain local institutions as associated colleges authorized to teach undergraduate courses under the Faculty of Arts, Commerce, Science, and Law.

In view of these achievements, as well as its position among the universities of Uttar Pradesh, the state government accorded it formal recognition in July 1992 as a 'premier institution' (Vishesh Agrani Sanstha). During the university's centenary celebrations in 1987 there were demands from students, faculty, and employees for the granting of status as a central university.

In 2003 the union cabinet decided to restore the central universality status of the university. This central university status was finally restored in 2005, through The University of Allahabad Act by the Parliament of India, which also declared the university an Institution of National Importance.

It has been accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

Campus

The campus is spread around the city of Prayagraj across the area of Old Katra and Bank Road. It consists of major five faculties, namely Science, Arts, commerce, law, management faculties with the arts faculty housing the Administrative Block of Chatham Lines. It has numerous residential hostels for students.

| File:Au science faculty.jpg | alt1= | Vizianagaram Hall in 2007 (since renovated): part of Faculty of Science | File:Aerial View of Senate Hall, University of Allahabad.png | alt2= | Aerial view of Senate Hall, University of Allahabad, Faculty of Art @Other. | File: | alt3= | Write a caption here

Organization and administration

Governance

The president of India is the visitor and the governor of Uttar Pradesh is the chief rector of the university. The chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university while the executive powers rest with the vice-chancellor. The Court, the Executive Council, the Academic Council, the Board of Faculties and the Finance Committee are the administrative authorities of the university.

The University Court is the supreme authority of the university and has the power to review, the broad policies and programs of the university and to suggest measures for the improvement and development of the university; The Executive Council is the highest executive body of the university. The Academic Council is the highest academic body of the university and is responsible for the co-ordination and exercising general supervision over the academic policies of the university. It has the right to advise the Executive Council on all academic matters. The Finance Committee is responsible for recommending financial policies, goals, and budgets.

In November 2020, Professor Sangita Srivastava was appointed as the new regular vice chancellor of Allahabad University. She was the first woman elected to this post at the university.

Colleges

The following colleges are component of Allahabad University:

• Allahabad Degree College
• Arya Kanya Degree College
• Chaudhary Mahadeo Prasad Post Graduate College
• Ewing Christian College (Autonomous Minority College)
• Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute
• Hamidia Girls' Degree College
• Ishwar Saran Degree College
• Jagat Taran Girls' Degree College
• K.P Training College
• Rajarshi Tandon Girls' Degree College
• S.S. Khanna Girls Degree College
• S.P.M. Govt. Degree College

Academic profile

Rankings

Allahabad University has been accessed and accredited to grade "A+" by NAAC.The university is ranked 240 in Asian Rankings - Southern Asia by QS World University Rankings as of 2025.

In National Institutional Ranking Framework, it was between ranked 201-300 for engineering in 2024 and 100-125 for management in 2025.

Research

Department of Psychology, University of Allahabad features a scholarly journal in collaboration with Sage Publications known as the Psychology and Developing Societies. The Centre of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, an independent research centre affiliated to Allahabad, is a leader in the field of cognitive sciences.

Notable alumni and faculty members

Main article: List of University of Allahabad alumni, List of vice-chancellors of the University of Allahabad

• Dr. Zakir Hussain, 3rd President of India and one of the Founder Members of Jamia Millia Islamia
• V. P. Singh, former Prime Minister of India
• S. R. Goyal, Indian historian
• Chandra Shekhar, former Prime Minister of India
• Madan Mohan Malaviya, founder of Banaras Hindu University
• Govind Ballabh Pant, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
• Shankar Dayal Sharma, former President of India
• R. N. Kao, former IPS officer, founder and first director of R&AW
• Ranganath Misra, former chief justice of India
• Rajendra Kumari Bajpai, former union minister of India, former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry
• Onkar Singh, former Vice Chancellor of Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University and Founder Vice Chancellor of Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology, Gorakhpur
• Anand Singh, former Member of Parliament, MLA, and Minister of Agriculture and Religious affairs, in Uttar Pradesh
• Murli Manohar Joshi, former Union Home Minister and former Union Minister of Science and Technology and Human Resource Development
• Mahadevi Verma, great writer and poet
• Firaq Gorakhpuri, great writer and poet
• Zamin Ali, great educator and poet
• Harivansh Rai Bachchan, great author and poet
• Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, law enforcement.
• Prem Chand Pandey, Scientist, Academic and Founding Director, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa
• Rashmi Sinha, Cofounder of SlideShare

References

References

1. "Message from the Vice-Chancellor". University of Allahabad.
2. "allduniv – University Student Enrolment Details".
3. "NIRF Data For the Year 2021". University of Allahabad.
4. . (1 January 2006). ["Handbook of Universities, Volume 1"](https://books.google.com/books?id=ZKgM7P5iGwgC&q=allahabad+university+established). *Atlantic Publishers & Dist*.
5. {{Cite EB1911
6. [http://www.allduniv.ac.in/aboutus/hist.html History] {{Webarchive. link. (25 May 2009 Allahabad University website.)
7. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121023235141/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-05-11/india/27850835_1_central-university-allahabad-varsity-political-interference Allahabad Varsity to become a central university] [[The Times of India]], 11 May 2005.
8. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060618201033/http://www.hindu.com/yw/2006/06/09/stories/2006060900150200.htm Muir College] ''[[The Hindu]]'', 9 June 2006.
9. (7 November 2003). "Allahabad University gets Central status {{!}} India News – Times of India". [[The Times of India]].
10. "University of Allahabad Act, 2005".
11. (5 April 2019). "AU's 10-year-long wait for NAAC accreditation ends, retains 'B++' rating". The Times of India.
12. "Allahabad University Act".
13. (30 November 2020). "Prof Sangita Srivastava appointed first woman VC of Allahabad University".
14. "NIRF Ranking 2024".
15. (4 September 2025). "MoE, National Institutional Research Framework Management Ranking".
16. (25 December 2019). "Who was Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, freedom fighter and educationist".
17. Mohanty, Basant Kumar. (5 February 2019). "Yogi govt moves to rename Allahabad University".
18. "Ranganath Mishra passes away".
19. "Members Bioprofile".
20. "Meet IPS Sanjeev Yadav, who is set to receive President's Gallantry Medal for the 11th time".