Jamia Millia Islamia

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) functions as a renowned central educational institution that emerged from India's independence movement and social justice principles in New Delhi. The university began its operations in 1920 at Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmud Hasan together with Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar and Hakim Ajmal Khan and Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari and Jenab Abdul Majeed Khwaja and Dr. Zakir Husain. JMI serves as a national educational center that delivers contemporary education and patriotic learning to all Indian citizens. In 1935, JMI moved to its present campus in Okhla, New Delhi, and in 1962, it was notified as a deemed university by the University Grants Commission. In 1988, an act of the Indian Parliament converted JMI to a central university. There is a strong hope that JMI will continue to serve as a source for social justice through education and a centre of excellence and creativity through intellectual endeavours.

Jamia Millia Islamia ideology has always been working in line with the intention of inclusive development, grasping the entire spectrum of socio-economic upliftment, especially concerning the deprived classes, including Muslims, through imparting education. The University motto, “Allamal insana malam ya‘lam” (He taught man what he knew not), is representative of the spirit of spreading knowledge and intellectual development. Currently, JMI is one of India's best universities, ranked 3rd amongst universities according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 and also NAAC-accredited A++ grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

With over 220 programs in academics under 10 faculties, 44 departments, and 30 research centres, the university offers its best environment to a diverse group of students while doing research, innovation, and development for society.

Historical Background:

Jamia Millia Islamia began its existence during the period when India fought for its independence. The institution started in 1920 in Aligarh under the Non-Cooperation Movement which emerged as a response to Mahatma Gandhi and nationalist leaders' boycott of British educational institutions. The university was established to provide students with a different educational model that combined traditional Indian principles with religious tolerance and patriotic spirit. The founders Mohammad Ali Jauhar and Hakim Ajmal Khan together with Dr. Zakir Husain created the institution to educate Indians especially Muslims in order to achieve community harmony and national development.

In 1925, financial difficulties led to the institute’s move to Karol Bagh in Delhi before it settled in its permanent campus at Okhla in 1935. The Silk Letter Movement received its foundation stone from Mahmud Hasan Deobandi who led the initiative. The university persevered through its early existence due to the combined efforts of staff members and students who voluntarily sacrificed their personal interests. The university achieved remarkable success through the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi as well as Rabindranath Tagore and Maulana Azad who established it as a model of strength and cultural unity.

The ascent of JMI from its humble origins to central university status showcases both its flexible nature and its original mission dedication. JMI reached its status as a deemed university in 1962 before achieving its central university designation in 1988 which established crucial points for enhancing its educational programs and facilities to serve diverse student communities.

Timeline of Jamia Millia Islamia

Academic Structure and Programs:

The educational institution offers students a broad selection of educational paths which include undergraduate programs, graduate programs, diploma programs, advanced diploma programs, certificate programs, and doctoral research programs. The institution delivers its educational programs through a network of 10 faculties which consist of 44 departments and 30 specialized centers that focus on the disciplines of engineering, law, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, education, and fine arts. The university thus offers programs in regular and distance/online modes.

Airing above faculties and departments to keep this university's academic structure, the following faculties are established comprising various departments.

• The Engineering and Technology Faculty started operations in 1985 to deliver degree programs from B.Tech through M.Tech and Ph.D. levels in Civil and Mechanical and Electrical and Electronics and Computer Engineering.
• This institution provides customized programs for Artificial Intelligence and Data Sciences and Environmental Engineering while achieving 11th position in the 2024 NIRF engineering rankings for India.
• The Law School began operations in 1989 to deliver five-year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) programs followed by LL.M. degrees and two doctoral degrees in personal law and corporate law. The faculty achieved 6th position in the 2024 NIRF law school rankings for India.
• The Faculty of Humanities and Languages includes the following language departments: English, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic and Persian.
• The Faculty provides B.A. and M.A. and Ph.D programs to its students. The faculty delivers educational programs in Economics and Political Science and Sociology and Psychology from undergraduate studies to doctoral studies.
• Students who wish to obtain degrees in Physics or Chemistry or Mathematics or Biosciences can enroll in B.Sc. and M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs.
• The Faculty of Education delivers training courses for future teachers alongside B.Ed. and M.Ed. degrees that emphasize inclusive education.
• The Faculty of Fine Arts delivers academic programs that cover painting, sculpture, and applied arts at both BFA and MFA levels.
• The Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics delivers B.Arch and M.Arch programs while holding the 7th position in India as per the 2024 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
• Dentistry students can enroll in BDS programs at the Faculty of Dentistry which occupies the 8th position in the national rankings according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).

List of Courses at Jamia Millia Islamia:

The table displays all the key courses which Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) provides students through their faculties and Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE). Programs at JMI consist of undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) degrees as well as diploma and advanced diploma and certificate and doctoral programs which encompass various areas of study.

Admission Process: Jamia Admission| JMICOE

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) maintains a transparent and accessible admission procedure which enables all candidates to apply for undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), diploma, certificate, and doctoral programs. The institution has program-specific entry requirements combined with entrance examinations that use a reservation system to support diversity initiatives.

Application Submission:

Candidates must apply through the JMI Admission Portal (admission.jmi.ac.in) for most programs. The application handle includes enrolling online, filling out the application form with personal and scholastic details, uploading required documents (such as mark sheets, certificates, and photos), and paying the application charge. For certain programs like B.Tech, B.Arch, and BDS, candidates may ought to apply through national-level entrance exam entries (e.g., JEE Fundamental, NATA, or NEET) in expansion to JMI's entrance.

Entrance Exams:

The university administers the JMI Entrance Exam to determine candidate admission to both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs. The examination structure contains both multiple-choice questions and open-ended problems which address the precise academic domain. Students apply to B.Tech, B.Arch and BDS programs through national entrance exams including JEE Main, NATA and NEET respectively. The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) serves as an admission requirement for certain undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Doctorate candidates must complete a written test to demonstrate research abilities which will be followed by an interview to evaluate their research proposal. Students who pass UGC NET, CSIR NET or GATE exams may avoid the Ph.D. written test requirement.

Eligibility Verification:

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for their chosen program:

• UG Courses: Candidates need to  score atleast 50% in Class 12 from a recognized board.
• The PG courses demand a bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade of 50-55% in the relevant field.
• All Ph.D. programs require candidates to possess a master’s degree with grades above 55% or equivalent academic standing.
• Distance education programs follow different eligibility requirements for each course with UG programs requesting a Class 12 certificate and PG programs demanding a bachelor’s degree.

Reservation Policy:

The university utilizes a reservation policy to enhance diversity and inclusion by allocating specific seats to various categories of applicants.

• The university reserves 30% of seats for Muslim students.
• Another 10% of seats goes to Muslim women while the remaining 10% is allocated to Muslim OBC/ST candidates.
• The university sets aside 5% of seats for physically challenged applicants.
• The university dedicates 5% of seats for students who belong to JMI-affiliated schools.

The Government of India establishes the right to additional reservations which extend to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Economically Weaker sections (EWS).

Distance and Online Education:

The Centre for Distance and Online Education administers program applications which students complete through the CDOE portal. Through the CDOE portal, candidates complete their applications by sending forms and documents and processing the required payment. The application process for some programs includes both entrance tests and selection through academic achievement evaluation. Indian Armed Forces personnel receive specialized admissions assistance from the CDOE.

Campus and Infrastructure:

The vast grounds of JMI in Okhla, New Delhi contain cutting-edge facilities that assist educational and recreational programs. The educational institution maintains the following essential infrastructure components:

• The institution provides advanced academic spaces that consist of contemporary classrooms along with seminar halls and science laboratory facilities and art studio spaces.
• Students at JMI gain library access through the Dr. Zakir Husain Library which contains numerous physical and digital materials including JSTOR, Scopus and Lexis Advance accessible through jmi.remotlog.com.
• Research Facilities: Advanced facilities such as the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology alongside remote experimentation through virtual laboratories.
• Hostels: On-campus residential areas designed for male and female students receive periodic maintenance activities including painting and distempering.
• Sports and Recreation: The institute provides sports facilities for cricket, football, badminton and organizes cultural events under the names Talimi Mela and MiRAAS.
• Health Services: The medical facility serves both students and staff members.

Faculty and Research

JMI faculty members consist of prominent scholars along with skilled researchers who advance interdisciplinary innovation. The university  demonstrates strong research abilities through its dedicated work in nanotechnology together with environmental science and artificial intelligence as well  as social sciences. JMI professors have obtained patents and produced impactful journal articles which together form the university's  h-index score of 129. The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) maintains academic standards through  continuous improvement processes that support NAAC's focus on quality standards.

Student Life and Extracurricular Activities

The student life at JMI provides a vibrant atmosphere which promotes cultural understanding and sports activities and knowledge  acquisition. The university holds annual events that include the following:

• Talimi Mela: This event takes place on October 29-30 each year as a part of JMI's Foundation Day celebration which includes cultural and  academic activities.
• MiRAAS: The university hosted this national cultural festival with competitive events during 2017  as its most recent edition. Students including Munna Khalid achieve medal success in para-badminton through  their participation in both departmental tournaments and national championships.

Alumni Network

Jamia Millia Islamia's graduates across the globe create relationships by joining Alumni Association of Jamia  Millia Islamia (AAJMI) which promotes the university's core values of quality education and equal opportunities. Shah Rukh Khan (actor) and Virender Sehwag (cricketer) and  Barkha Dutt (journalist) and Kabir Khan (filmmaker) serve as distinguished alumni in the association. The association plans to establish a global alumni portal that will provide job opportunities and scholarships while offering mentorship and exam preparation  support for UPSC and NEET.

Rankings and Achievements

Jamia Millia Islamia demonstrates its academic excellence through its prominent ranking standing:

• NIRF 2024  positions the university at the 3rd position for all universities and 13th overall while achieving a 6th place in law and 7th  place in architecture and 8th position in dental education and 24th position in engineering.
• According to QS  World University Rankings for 2025, Jamia Millia Islamia obtained a position between 851 and  900 worldwide and achieved 206th place among Asian institutions.
• For 2024, Times Higher  Education positioned Jamia Millia Islamia at 501–600 worldwide and 148 in Asia and second in the Indian engineering category.

Conclusion
Jamia Millia Islamia demonstrates how education can drive social improvement and national growth through its existence. The university maintains its founding principles of diversity and academic excellence since its establishment during the freedom movement until its central  university status. The institution delivers diverse academic programs alongside innovative research activities and dynamic campus experiences which equip students to lead in the worldwide interconnected society. The enduring influence of Jamia Millia Islamia on Indian higher  education is guaranteed through its established traditions of resilience and pluralism as it advances into the future.