Rajiv Gandhi University (formerly Arunachal University) is the premier Central University in Arunachal Pradesh. Established in 1984 by an Act of the State Legislature, it was converted into a Central University by the Government of India in 2007.
Located on Rono Hills, RGU is a teaching-cum-affiliating university. It serves as the primary academic and research hub for the state, offering a wide range of postgraduate and doctoral programs on its campus. It also provides affiliation and academic governance to all colleges in Arunachal Pradesh, including government and private institutions for general education, law, education, and health sciences.
Type: Central University (Institution of Eminence status)
Recognition: University Grants Commission (UGC)
NAAC Grade: Accredited with an 'A' Grade
NIRF Ranking: The university participates in NIRF rankings, and its position in the 'University' category was in the 151-200 band in 2023.
Other Rankings: Ranked 13th among Central Universities in India by IIRF 2025 and 18th in the 'Central Universities' category by Outlook 2024.
Permitted for renewal of permission u/s 10(A) for 2020-21, Permitted for Renewal of 50 seats for the academic year 2022-23. Recognized for one(01) year for 2022-23 only. Permitted for admission for 2023-24. Annual renewal permission granted for 50 MBBS seats for AY 2024-25. LOP granted for increase of 50 seats (50-100) for the AY 2024-25
The university's main campus is located on a scenic plateau.
Location: Situated on Rono Hills, Doimukh, which is about 25 km from the state capital, Itanagar.
Campus Size & Vibe: The campus is vast, spread over 302 acres of picturesque, green hills. It is a self-contained residential campus with a tranquil and academic atmosphere, housing all academic departments, hostels, and administrative buildings.
Infrastructure & Facilities:
Academic Blocks: 15 academic buildings house the university's various faculties and departments.
Central Library: A large, modern library with over 64,000 books, 300+ Ph.D. theses, and access to more than 10,000 e-journals (through INFLIBNET and other consortiums). It is RFID-enabled for easy circulation.
Healthcare: The university has an on-campus Health Centre with full-time medical officers that provides free medical care and basic medicines to students and staff.
Residential Life: The university is highly residential, with 14 hostels (called "Halls of Residence")—including 4 for men and 3 for women, plus research scholar hostels.
Amenities: Bank (SBI) & ATM, Post Office, auditoriums, convention hall, canteens, guest house, and a robust transport system (university buses) connecting the campus to Nirjuli, Naharlagun, and Itanagar.
Sports: A large sports arena, an international standard badminton court, a shooting range, a boxing ring, and grounds for football and volleyball.
Leading tertiary care hospital attached to the institution
RGU does not have its own constituent medical college or teaching hospital on its campus.
Its role is that of an affiliating university. The first medical college in the state, the Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), Naharlagun, is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University for its MBBS degree.
State University Affordability
As a Central University, RGU's fee structure is extremely affordable and heavily subsidized.
Availability: RGU is a residential university with 14 hostels for on-campus students (UG, PG, and Research Scholars). Allotment is based on merit and category.
Cost: Hostel fees are extremely low.
Hostel Fee (Annual): ~ ₹1,000 - ₹2,000 (Includes admission fee, room rent, maintenance, etc.).
Mess Charges: This is the main cost. The messes are run cooperatively by the hostellers. A refundable mess advance (e.g., ~₹10,000) is taken at admission, and monthly bills are divided based on actual expenses.
Admission to RGU is managed through national-level and university-level entrance tests.
UG Courses (BA, B.Com, B.Sc, etc.): Admission to most on-campus and affiliated college UG programs is based on scores from the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG).
PG Courses (MA, M.Sc, M.Com, MBA, MCA, LLM, M.Ed): Admission is based on scores from the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-PG). RGU may also conduct its own entrance test (RGUCET) for seats that remain vacant after CUET counselling.
B.Tech (Affiliated): Admission is based on JEE (Main) scores or the state-level entrance exam.
MBBS (Affiliated): Admission to TRIHMS is based on NEET-UG rank, followed by state counselling conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Directorate of Higher & Technical Education.
Ph.D.: Admission is through the Rajiv Gandhi University Ph.D. Entrance Test (RGUPET), followed by an interview.
RGU has a central placement cell that organizes career counselling and placement drives.
Focus: As the primary university in a developing state, many graduates pursue careers in state government (APPSC), teaching (B.Ed/M.Ed, NET/SLET), and academia (Ph.D.).
Placements: The placement cell facilitates opportunities with companies like TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Capgemini, ICICI Bank, and organizations like the Azim Premji Foundation.
Salary Potential: Placement packages are generally modest, reflecting the regional job market.
UG (3-Year): Median package reported around ₹3.5 LPA.
PG (2-Year): Median package reported around ₹4.5 LPA - ₹5.0 LPA.
RGU has an International Students Cell and supernumerary seats for foreign nationals.
Well-equipped Library
Experienced Faculty
Computer Lab
Sports Activities
Heritage Campus