University of Kashmir


University of Kashmir, informally known as Kashmir University, is a public state university located in the Hazratbal neighbourhood, on the western side of Dal Lake in the city of Srinagar, in Jammu and Kashmir, India, which was established in 1948.
The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs in the fields of liberal arts, business, commerce & management studies, education, law, applied sciences & Technology, biological sciences, physical & material sciences, social sciences, medicine, dentistry, engineering, oriental learning, and music & fine arts. It was awarded Grade "A++" by the NAAC in June 2025. It was awarded rank 34 among universities in India by NIRF ranking 2025.

History

The inception of the University of Kashmir dates back to the establishment of Jammu and Kashmir University in 1948. Contribution of academics of various faculties needs special mention. Notable alumni are spread around globe, have made a name for country and for the university. In 1969, it was made into two full-fledged universities: University of Kashmir at Srinagar and University of Jammu at Jammu.
The University of Kashmir, since its establishment, has been focused at Hazratbal and encompasses three adjacent areas: Amar Singh Bagh, Naseem Bagh and Mirza Bagh. This campus is spread over. It is the largest university by a number of full-time students in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
A major part of Amar Singh Bagh and Naseem Bagh constitute the Hazratbal campus which is laid out on the northeastern bank of Dal Lake. Earlier, many postgraduate departments, research and other centres were housed in Naseem Bagh Campus. But the university resolved to develop Naseem Bagh into a heritage site and, thereafter, many departments were shifted to other areas of the Hazratbal campus. 2025, Zakura Campus, which was being developed on 300 kanals of land in close proximity to Hazratbal campus to meet expansion requirements of the university, consists of the University's largest engineering academic hub i.e. Institute of Technology, which offers four-year B.Tech courses in Civil, Mechanical, Electronics and Communication, Electrical Engineering, 2 year M.Tech in E&C, Electrical and Mechanical and 4-Year B.S. through Design Your Degree, followed by other campuses which are also providing several PG/Integrated/UG Courses. Mirza Bagh or "University Town" constitutes buildings housing quarters for the university staff.
The idea of extending postgraduate programmes to colleges and establishing new campuses at Anantnag and Baramulla was conceived by the then Vice Chancellor Prof Raees Ahmad in 2002. He mobilised over 300 million for the development of the university from the prime minister's fund for the overall development of the main campus and the establishment of the new campuses. The foundation stones were laid by Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and the plans of buildings were approved. The locations of the campuses had to be changed because of likely floods. After Prof Tareen the development of campuses took a long time and became operational in 2008/2009. The new social science block, the life science block, the examination block, the humanities block, the distance education block, the media block and many other buildings were constructed in 2001 and 2004 during Prof Tareen's period out of the PMs special fund. The 200-capacity convention centre was also completed.
The South Campus established on 259 kanals of land at Fateh Garh, Anantnag was started in October 2008. The North Campus on 559 kanals at Delina, Baramulla was started in December 2009. One Campus at Kupwara is also established and functional, as of 2025. Post-2019, Kargil and Leh Campuses were merged with the University of Ladakh.

Present form

There are 14 schools, more than 50 academic departments, 21 centres, 36 colleges and six recognised institutes spread all over the state. The two largest departments in student enrolment include the School of Law and the School of Business Studies.
The School of Law, being one of the oldest academic departments, runs four full time academic programmes 3-Year LL.B, 5-Year Integrated B.A.LL.B, 2-Year LLM and Integrated Ph.D. The School's student body, "Law Society," actively organises debates, seminars, and moot court competitions. The School publishes a refereed research journal, Kashmir University Law Review.
The School of Business Studies consists of four academic departments, the largest one being the Department of Management Studies, which offers academic programmes like Integrated MBA, MBA-FM and MBA.
The other academic departments/research centers offer a variety of academic programmes through PG/UG/Integrated at Main and other satellite sampuses to meet the demand of the student community.

Campus

The university has 247 acres campus in Hazratbal. To make education more accessible to people living in remote areas of Kashmir Valley, the university has established satellite campuses at Zakura Campus, North Campus, South Campus and Kupwara Campus.

Library

The university has a central library called Allama Iqbal Library. It is headed by the university librarian. It has a collection of over 600,000 books including 415 rare manuscripts. It was established to cater to the needs of scholars, researchers and students of the university. With the split of the university in 1969, the library was shared by the two universities.

Hostels

The university provides residential facilities on a first-come-first-served basis to the teaching and non-teaching staff at Main Campus and Mirza Bagh Campus, as well as to students at the following-mentioned places. The hostels located at the Main as well as Zakura Campus, are directly supervised by the concerned Provost Office, while as those falling under the other satellite campuses are supervised and managed by the Hostel Allotment Committee of the concerned satellite campus.
In 2020, the varsity enacted a new hostel accommodation-cum-residential policy, superseding the previous 2018 policy.

Boys' hostels https://provostboys.uok.edu.in/Main/Default.aspx

  • International Gani Kashmiri Hostel
  • Mehboob-ul-Aalam Hostel
  • Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri Hostel
  • Gani Kashmiri Hostel for Research Scholars
  • Shaikh-ul-Alam Boys and Hostels
  • Syed Meerak Shah Hostel

    Girls' hostels https://pghostels.uok.edu.in/Main/Default.aspx

  • Habba Khatoon Hostel
  • Rabia Basiri Hostel
  • Qurat-ul-Aen Hostel
  • Bibi Amina Hostel
  • Lal Ded Hostel

    Affiliated colleges

The University of Kashmir has 45 affiliated and 21 constituent colleges.
Constituent colleges
  • Government Medical College, Srinagar
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  • Government Medical College, Anantnag
  • Government Medical College, Baramulla
  • Government Dental College and Hospital, Srinagar
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  • Sopore Law College, Sopore, Baramulla
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  • Kausar College of Computer Science, Nowshera, Srinagar
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  • Max-Well College of Computer Science, Pulwama
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Permanently affiliated government colleges
  • Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar
  • Government College for Women, Anantnag
  • Government College for Women, Baramulla
  • Government College for Women, Nawakadal Srinagar
  • Government Degree College for Boys, Anantnag
  • Government College for Boys, Baramulla
  • Government Degree College, Bemina
  • Government Degree College, Kupwara
  • Government Degree College, Sogam lolab
  • Government Degree College, Handwara
  • Government Degree College, Sopore
  • Government Degree College, Pulwama
  • Government Degree College, Tral
  • Government Degree College, Shopian
  • Government Degree College, Ganderbal
  • Government Degree College, Kulgam
  • Government Degree College, Kelam
  • Government Degree College, Doru
  • Government Degree College, Pattan
  • Government Degree College, Beerwah
  • Government Degree College, Uri
  • Government Degree College, Bijbehara
  • Government Degree College, Budgam
  • Government Degree College, Bandipora
  • Government Degree College for Women, Sopore
  • Government Model Degree College Tangmarg Gulmarg
  • Vishwa Bharti Women's College, Srinagar
  • Government Degree College, Bomai Sopore

    Organisation and administration

Core administrative officers

Section 9 of the Kashmir and Jammu Universities Act, 1969 enumerates the university officers, namely the chancellor, pro-chancellor, vice‑chancellor, pro‑vice‑chancellor, financial advisor, registrar, controller of examinations, joint registrar, and other officers the statutes may prescribe
  • : The university is headed by the lieutenant‑governor of the UT of J&K, who presides over University Council and convocations, and confirms honorary degrees.
  • ' The chief minister, Government of J&K, acts as ex-officio pro‑chancellor. In the chancellor’s absence, he/she presides over Council/convocations. He/she holds inspection/inquiry powers into university affairs and may direct corrective actions.
  • ' The vice-chancellor is the principal executive and academic officer of the university, who is appointed by the chancellor in consultation with the pro‑chancellor from names recommended by a selection committee. Section 13 establishes the vice‑chancellor as the university’s principal executive and academic officer, chairing the Academic Council and other bodies in the absence of the chancellor and pro‑chancellor, and vested with authority to convene meetings, ensure compliance with all statutes and regulations, make necessary appointments, manage discipline, take emergency action, enforce decisions of statutory bodies, and delegate powers as prescribed.
  • Pro-vice-chancellor : Section 15 and related provisions confer on the pro‑vice‑chancellor such powers as may be assigned by the VC or can be prescribed in the statutes and regulations, always under the VC’s control. For a very long time, no one has been appointed as the PVC; the position has been remained vacant.
  • ' Section 16 designates the Administrative Secretary, Department of Finance, Government of J&K, as the ex-officio financial advisor to the University, who supervises university finances, advises on budgetary policy, presents annual estimates and accounts, and may undertake additional duties prescribed by statutes.
  • ' The registrar is appointed by the University Council on the recommendation of a selection committee. As a full‑time officer, the Registrar acts as the secretary to all major university bodies, controls ministerial and technical staff under the VC’s sanction, handles university records and property, manages financial transactions, issues meeting notices, and supports the vice‑chancellor in all administrative duties. The statutes and regulations may allow further duties, and the registrar may delegate powers with VC approval. To keep it simple, the registrar is the chief of administration of the university.
  • ' Section 18 empowers the controller of examinations, also appointed by the University Council upon a selection committee’s recommendation, as a full‑time officer responsible for the complete conduct of examinations. He heads the Examination Wing of the University which includes setting, printing, and safeguarding question papers, overseeing examination logistics, managing complaints and unfair means cases, and performing statutory duties under the VC’s direction.
The Act also enumerates the key administrative Authorities of the universities - the , , Boards of Studies, Board of Inspection and Board of Research Studies, and other Statutory bodies. Section 22 establishes the University Council as the supreme policy-making body, endowed with powers to draft statutes, approve financial estimates and developmental plans, review annual reports, appoint senior officers and teachers, establish committees, delegate powers, and execute any additional functions provided under the Act or Statutes. Other than those mentioned in the Act, the university has:
  • ' Under the overall direction of the Vice‑Chancellor, the DAA is the senior most teacher of the University and acts as the nerve centre for all matters concerning academic environment and activity on the campus, assisted by a Joint/Deputy Registrar and assistantrRegistrar. He looks after the working of various teaching departments. He heads the Academic Section, and chairs certain academic committees in the VC’s absence. He has authority to process proposals for guest speakers, visiting fellows/professors, and faculty improvements. he co-signs academic MoUs and recommends statute amendments related to teaching programs. He oversees PG course affiliations.
  • ' DR plays a central administrative leadership role, overseeing the university’s research agenda. He tracks progress of sponsored and institutional projects, manage budgets, supervise compliance, and coordinate pre/post-award processes. He also fosters ethical practices, research integrity, awareness of COI, safety, training, and overall compliance.
  • ' DCDC is another senior-most professor of the university, who is appointed by the vice‑chancellor, to look after the university’s College Development Council, which bridges the university, and its affiliated and/or constituent colleges, including their timely inspection and recognition. DCDC develops perspective plans for college openings, ensures minimum prescribed standards, and monitors UGC-mandated requirements.
  • Director Finance/Chief Accounts Officer and Financial Advisor
  • Proctorial Organization/Office of the Chief Proctor