A Central University in India is established by the Government of India, normally by Act of Parliament, while most universities are established by state governments.

There are currently 20 Central Universities established by Act:

1. Central Agricultural University,Imphal
2. University of Delhi, Delhi
3. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
4. Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
5. Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
6. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
7. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
8. Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan
9. Hyderabad Central University, Hyderabad
10. Pondicherry University, Pondicherry
11. North Eastern Hill University, Shillong
12. Assam University, Silchar
13. Tezpur University, Tezpur
14. Nagaland University, Kohima
15. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow
16. Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
17. Mizoram University, Aizawl
18. University of Allahabad, Allahabad
19. Manipur University, Imphal
20. Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha
21. The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad