The Maulana Azad National Urdu University Act, 1996
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Education / Department of Higher Education
Act details
| Short title | The Maulana Azad National Urdu University Act, 1996 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to establish and incorporate in University at the national level mainly to promote and develop Urdu language and to import vocational and technical education in Urdu medium through conventional teaching and distance education system and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. |
| Act number | 2 of 1997 |
| Act year | 1997 |
| Enactment date | 8 Jan 1997 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Education / Department of Higher Education |
| Department | Department of Higher Education |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 43 |
| Schedules | 1 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Legislative history
Legislative History:
The Maulana Azad National Urdu University Act, 1996
Short Title The Maulana Azad National Urdu University Act, 1996
Act Number / Year 2 of 1997
Act ID (India Code) 199702
Presidential Assent / Enactment Date January 8, 1997
Enforcement Date January 9, 1998
Administrative Nodal Ministry Ministry of Education
Precedent & Statutory Rationale
• Linguistic Marginalization and Institutional Gaps:
o Prior to 1997, higher education institutions providing instruction, vocational training, and technical learning specifically through the medium of Urdu at a national level lacked a dedicated, centrally funded framework.
o Speakers and scholars of the Urdu language faced limitations in accessing specialized, professional, and technical modern disciplines through their mother tongue via standard institutional frameworks.
• Legislative Intervention and Regularization:
o Enacted to establish and incorporate a national-level central university named after the eminent scholar and independent India's first Education Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
o The core objective was to promote and develop the Urdu language, impart vocational and technical education in the Urdu medium through conventional teaching methods as well as a distance education system, and address broader matters connected therewith.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
• Formulation: Developed by the central government through legislative deliberation in Parliament to fulfill national educational policy goals concerning linguistic minority development and higher learning accessibility.
• Parliamentary Passage: Passed by both houses of Parliament during the winter session, receiving formal presidential assent on January 8, 1997.
• Enforcement: Enforced on January 9, 1998.
• Source: India Code and Ministry of Education Official Records.