Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), the lone central university of Arunachal Pradesh, has secured the second spot among all other central universities in India, according to the rankings released by the ministry of education.

RGU secured the second position with 83% in the grading of performance of central universities by the education ministry while Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi) topped the rankings with a score of 90 percent.

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RGU is closely followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi) and Aligarh Muslim University (Uttar Pradesh) with 82 and 78 percent respectively.

The scoring/grading was based on an evaluation of 17 key parameters fixed under a tri-partite memorandum of understanding which the RGU, like other central universities had signed in 2019-20 with the ministry of human resource department, now the ministry of education.

The objective of the MoU was to access and facilitate the performance of the Central University on selected key parameters against the targets so as to incrementally improve the performance of the University.

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Speaking to Northeast Now, an elated RGU vice-chancellor Professor Saket Kushwaha credited the university’s faculty, the officers concerned, non-teaching staff and students for the achievement.

“There was synchronization among all of them which led to this significant accomplishment,” Kushwaha said.

The vice-chancellor said RGU scored well on most of the parameters like annual student intake in UG, PG, percentage of female students and students from other states, student-teacher ratio, etc, however, its score took a hit in the intake of foreign students’ parameter.

Among other parameters were the number of students, who qualified in the National Eligibility Test (NET) Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) and campus placements.

Kushwaha said the inner line and restricted area permit system which is applicable in Arunachal Pradesh was the main reason the university is not able to take foreign students.

The other areas where the RGU scored less than Jamia Millia Islamia was teacher vacancy, he said.

Kushwaha, however, said he has already written to the education ministry regarding this and “if two parameters are looked into, RGU has the capability to score more than 90 percent.”

The vice-chancellor further also thanked Governor B D Mishra, also the chief rector of RGU, chief minister Pema Khandu, deputy chief minister Chowna Mein, education minister Taba Tedir and the people of the state for their contribution and support to the university.

Located at Rono Hills in Papum Pare district, around 27 km from here, RGU, formerly Arunachal University is the oldest university in Arunachal Pradesh.

The foundation stone for the university was laid in 1984 by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The university was renamed as Rajiv Gandhi University in 2005.

The varsity had also hit the headlines in May this year after the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports selected it to establish a centre of sports science education and research under MYAS scheme of National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR).

The sports science education and research center, once established would be the first of its kind in the northeast and 6th in the entire country.

Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu has congratulated the university for the achievement.

“Heartiest congratulations Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU)! Happy to know that RGU from Arunachal is ranked the second best Central University in the country in rankings released by the Ministry of Education with a score of 83%. May RGU continue to achieve more such glories!” Khandu tweeted.

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: [email protected]