Education is based on three-tier model which includes primary schools, followed by secondary and higher-secondary schools and tertiary education at universities or other higher education institutions. The Education Department of the
Government of Delhi
The Government of Delhi, officially the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD; ISO: ) is the governing body of India's National Capital Territory of Delhi, whose urban area is the seat of the Government of India. It also ...
is a premier body which looks into educational affairs. The RTE Act
right to education
The right to education has been recognized as a human rights, human right in a number of international conventions, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which recognizes a right to free education, free, pr ...
states that children from the age of 6 to 14 have to compulsorily be educated. 25% of the seats in all private schools are also reserved for the under-privileged children. Tertiary education is administrated by the Directorate of Higher Education.
Delhi has to its credit like the
Indian Institute of Technology
The Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) are a network of engineering and technology institutions in India. Established in 1950, they are under the purview of the Ministry of Education of the Indian Government and are governed by the Instit ...
, the
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
The All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is a group of autonomous government public medical universities of higher education under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. These institutes ha ...
, the
Indian Statistical Institute
The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) is a public research university headquartered in Kolkata, India with centers in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Tezpur. It was declared an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India und ...
,
National Institute of Technology
The National Institutes of Technology (NITs) are Centrally Funded Technical Institutes, centrally funded technical institutes under the ownership of the Ministry of Education (India), Ministry of Education, Government of India. They are gover ...
, the
School of Planning and Architecture, the
Indian Agricultural Research Institute
The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), commonly known as the Pusa Institute, is India's national institute for agricultural research, education and extension. The name Pusa Institute is derived from the fact that the institute was ...
, the
Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology
Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) is a state university located in Delhi, India. IIIT Delhi offers B.Tech., M.Tech. and Ph.D. degrees. IIITD also offers PhD degrees to students through the Department of Social ...
, the
Netaji Subhas University of Technology, the
Delhi Technological University
Delhi Technological University (DTU), formerly Delhi College of Engineering (DCE) is a state university in Rohini, Delhi, India. It was established in 1941 as Delhi Polytechnic. In 1952, it started giving degrees after being affiliated with th ...
, for accountancy education
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Abbreviation, abbreviated as ICAI, is India's largest professional accounting body under the administrative control of Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India. It was established on ...
set up by an Act of Parliament in 1949,
University of Delhi
The Delhi University (DU, ISO 15919, ISO: ), also and officially known as the University of Delhi, is a collegiate university, collegiate research university, research Central university (India), central university located in Delhi, India. It ...
,
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU; ISO: Javāharalāla Neharū Viśvavidyālaya) is a public research university located in Delhi, India. It was established in 1969 and named after Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister. The university ...
, the
National Law University
National Law Universities (NLU) are law schools, public law schools in India, founded pursuant to the second-generation reforms for legal education sought to be implemented by the Bar Council of India. The first NLU was the National Law School ...
,
AJK Mass Communication Research Centre under
Jamia Millia Islamia
Jamia Millia Islamia is a Public university, public and research university located in Delhi, India. Originally established at Aligarh, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) during the British R ...
and the
Indian Institute of Mass Communication
Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) is a deemed-to-be-university, established on 17 August 1965, Delhi. Considered as the best media education institute of the country, it has five regional centers across India. The IIMC is an autonom ...
.
As per the
2011 census, Delhi has a
literacy rate
Literacy is the ability to read and write, while illiteracy refers to an inability to read and write. Some researchers suggest that the study of "literacy" as a concept can be divided into two periods: the period before 1950, when literacy was ...
of 86.3% with 91.0% of males and 80.9% of females.
History
New Delhi has a rich history of education that dates back to ancient times. The region of Delhi has been a center of learning since the time of the Mauryan Empire, which ruled over a large part of India from 322 BCE to 185 BCE.During the
Mauryan Empire
The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in South Asia with its power base in Magadha. Founded by Chandragupta Maurya around c. 320 BCE, it existed in loose-knit fashion until 185 BCE. The primary sourc ...
, which ruled over a large part of India from 322 BCE to 185 BCE, New Delhi did not exist as a city. However, the region that now comprises Delhi and its surrounding areas was known as the
Kuru Kingdom, which was an important center of learning during the
Mauryan period
The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in South Asia with its power base in Magadha. Founded by Chandragupta Maurya around c. 320 BCE, it existed in loose-knit fashion until 185 BCE. The primary sourc ...
.
The Mauryan Empire was known for its emphasis on education, and the famous Mauryan
Emperor Ashoka
Ashoka, also known as Asoka or Aśoka ( ; , ; – 232 BCE), and popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was List of Mauryan emperors, Emperor of Magadha from until #Death, his death in 232 BCE, and the third ruler from the Mauryan dynast ...
was a patron of education and supported the establishment of several universities and centers of learning throughout his empire.
During the
Mughal period
The Mughal Empire was an early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to the highlands of pre ...
, the region continued to be an important center of learning, with several madrasas and other educational institutions being established. The famous Mughal
Emperor Akbar
Akbar (Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar, – ), popularly known as Akbar the Great, was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, under a regent, Bairam Khan, who helped the young emperor expand ...
was known for his support of education and established several schools and libraries.During the Mughal period, which lasted from the early 16th century to the mid-19th century, Delhi was an important center of learning and culture in India. The Mughal emperors were known for their patronage of the arts and education, and they established several schools and madrasas in Delhi and other parts of the empire.
One of the most famous educational institutions established during the Mughal period was the Madrasa-e-Azam, which was founded by Emperor Akbar in 1562. The Madrasa-e-Azam was a school for Islamic studies and was known for its high standards of education. It was located in the city of Delhi and attracted students from all over the
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire was an Early modern period, early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to ...
.
In addition to the Madrasa-e-Azam, several other madrasas and educational institutions were established in Delhi during the Mughal period. These institutions focused on a wide range of subjects, including theology, philosophy, mathematics, and medicine.
One of the most famous scholars of the Mughal period was Sheikh
Nizamuddin Auliya
Khawaja Syed Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya (sometimes spelled Awliya; 1238 – 3 April 1325), also known as Hazrat Nizamuddin (), Sultan-ul-Mashaikh () and Mahbub-e-Ilahi (), was an Indian Sunni Muslim scholar, Sufi saint of the Chishti Order, a ...
, who lived in Delhi during the 14th century. Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya was a Sufi saint and a scholar of Islamic law and theology. He founded a school for Islamic studies in Delhi, which became known as the Nizamuddin Dargah. The
Nizamuddin Dargah is still an important center of learning and spiritualism in Delhi today.
Overall, the Mughal period was a time of great cultural and educational flourishing in Delhi, with the city becoming a hub of scholarship and intellectual exchange.
Colonial period (19th-20th centuries CE)
In 1860-61, the
North-Western Provinces
The North-Western Provinces was an Presidencies and provinces of British India, administrative region in British Raj, British India. The North-Western Provinces were established in 1836, through merging the administrative divisions of the Cede ...
education system was abolished in Delhi, and
Punjab
Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...
education system was introduced with opening of schools at Narela,
Najafgarh
Najafgarh is a town in the South West Delhi, South West Delhi district of National Capital Territory of Delhi, India. It is one of the three subdivisions of the Southwest Delhi district. Najafgarh is located on outskirts of NCT Delhi in south we ...
,
Mehrauli
Mehrauli is a neighbourhood in South Delhi, Delhi, India. It represents a constituency in the legislative assembly of Delhi. The area is close to Gurugram and next to Vasant Kunj.
History
Mehrauli is one of the seven medieval cities that ...
and their suburbs.
In the colonial era, New Delhi became a center of education for the British in India. The University of Delhi was founded in 1922 and became one of the largest universities in India. The university offered courses in a wide range of subjects and played a crucial role in the development of higher education in the country.
Higher education
There are about 500,000 university students in Delhi NCR attending around more than 165 universities and colleges.
Delhi has fourteen major universities:
*
University of Delhi
The Delhi University (DU, ISO 15919, ISO: ), also and officially known as the University of Delhi, is a collegiate university, collegiate research university, research Central university (India), central university located in Delhi, India. It ...
: Central university
*
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT- Delhi) is a public institute of technology located in Delhi, India. It is one of the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology created to be a Centre of Excellence for India's training, research and developme ...
*
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (AIIMS New Delhi), is a public medical research university and hospital in New Delhi, India. The institute is governed by the AIIMS Act, 1956 and operates autonomously under the Ministry of He ...
*
Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi
*
National Institute of Technology, Delhi
*
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade: One of the leading Business schools of India which is established by
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is a ministry of the Government of India responsible for facilitating trade, regulating markets, promoting economic growth through industry development, setting trade policies, overseeing compliance with re ...
.
*
Indian Agricultural Research Institute
The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), commonly known as the Pusa Institute, is India's national institute for agricultural research, education and extension. The name Pusa Institute is derived from the fact that the institute was ...
*
Jamia Millia Islamia
Jamia Millia Islamia is a Public university, public and research university located in Delhi, India. Originally established at Aligarh, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) during the British R ...
: Central university
*
Delhi Technological University
Delhi Technological University (DTU), formerly Delhi College of Engineering (DCE) is a state university in Rohini, Delhi, India. It was established in 1941 as Delhi Polytechnic. In 1952, it started giving degrees after being affiliated with th ...
: State university
*
Netaji Subhas University of Technology: State University
*
Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women
Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW), is an all women's university located in Delhi, India on the heritage campus at Kashmere Gate, Delhi. It was founded as the Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology in 1998. In May 201 ...
: State university
*
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU; ISO: Javāharalāla Neharū Viśvavidyālaya) is a public research university located in Delhi, India. It was established in 1969 and named after Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister. The university ...
: Central university
*
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi: State university
*
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, formerly Indraprastha University (IP or IPU), is a state university located in Dwarka, Delhi, India. The university is organised around fourteen university schools and three university centers that f ...
: State university
*
Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University: State university
*
National Law University
National Law Universities (NLU) are law schools, public law schools in India, founded pursuant to the second-generation reforms for legal education sought to be implemented by the Bar Council of India. The first NLU was the National Law School ...
: State law university
*
Indira Gandhi National Open University
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is a National university, public Open university (concept), open & Distance education, distance learning university located in Delhi, India. Named after the former Prime Minister of India, prime ...
: World's largest
national university
A national university is mainly a university created or managed by a government, but which may also at the same time operate autonomously without direct control by the state. In the United States, the term "national university" connotes the highe ...
.
*
Jamia Hamdard: Deemed university
Technical education

Delhi boasts of being home to some of the top
engineering college
Engineering education is the activity of teaching knowledge and principles to the professional practice of engineering. It includes an initial education ( Dip.Eng.)and (B.Eng.) or ( M.Eng.), and any advanced education and specializations tha ...
s in India —
IIT Delhi
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT- Delhi) is a public institute of technology located in Delhi, India. It is one of the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology created to be a Centre of Excellence for India's training, research and developme ...
,
NIT Delhi,
Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology
Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) is a state university located in Delhi, India. IIIT Delhi offers B.Tech., M.Tech. and Ph.D. degrees. IIITD also offers PhD degrees to students through the Department of Social ...
,
Netaji Subhas University of Technology,
Delhi Technological University
Delhi Technological University (DTU), formerly Delhi College of Engineering (DCE) is a state university in Rohini, Delhi, India. It was established in 1941 as Delhi Polytechnic. In 1952, it started giving degrees after being affiliated with th ...
(formerly DCE), Delhi Institute of Tool Engineering (formerly TRTC) and
Jamia Millia Islamia
Jamia Millia Islamia is a Public university, public and research university located in Delhi, India. Originally established at Aligarh, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) during the British R ...
. Delhi also boasts several private and few government engineering institutions like
and
G. B. Pant Engineering College, New Delhi, which are usually affiliated to the
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, formerly Indraprastha University (IP or IPU), is a state university located in Dwarka, Delhi, India. The university is organised around fourteen university schools and three university centers that f ...
. Aiipphs University Self-Government Autonomous University, Delhi
Industrial training institutes and centres
Directorate of Training and Technical Education, Govt. of NCT, has set up
Industrial training institute (ITI) and industrial training centres, constituted under the
Ministry of Labour and Employment, provide diploma in technical fields. There are several ITIs in Delhi NCR.
Normally a person who has passed 10 standard (
SSLC
The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (commonly referred to as SSLC) is a certification obtained by a student on successful completion of an examination at the end of study at the secondary schooling level in India. The SSLC is obtained o ...
) is eligible for admission to an ITI. The objective of opening of ITI is provide "technical manpower to industries".
Polytechnic institutes and centres
Architectural and Planning education
*
School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi
School of Planning and Architecture Delhi (SPA Delhi) is a higher education federal institute located in Delhi, India specialising in education and research, and serving as the national centre of excellence, in the fields of planning and archi ...
*
Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, Jamia Millia Islamia
Medical education
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
The All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is a group of autonomous government public medical universities of higher education under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. These institutes ha ...
(AIIMS) is considered amongst the best medical research and treatment centres in India.
Delhi has Ten medical institutes, out of which six provide both undergraduate and postgraduate education in medicine while other two are researched based. These medical institutes are either affiliated to the University of Delhi or GGSIPU, only AIIMS is central based. Faculty of Dentistry (
Jamia Millia Islamia
Jamia Millia Islamia is a Public university, public and research university located in Delhi, India. Originally established at Aligarh, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) during the British R ...
University) and Maulana Azad Dental College (
Delhi University
The Delhi University (DU, ISO 15919, ISO: ), also and officially known as the University of Delhi, is a collegiate university, collegiate research university, research Central university (India), central university located in Delhi, India. It ...
) are some of the
dental school
A dental school (school of dental medicine, school of dentistry, dental college) is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches dental medicine to prospective dentists and potentially other dental auxiliari ...
s.
Primary and secondary education
Schools in Delhi are run either by government or private sector. They are affiliated to one of three education boards: the
Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) is a non-governmental privately held national-level board of school education in India that conducts the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) Examination for Class ...
(CISCE), the
Central Board for Secondary Education
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is a national-level board of education in India for public and private schools, controlled and managed by the Government of India. Established in 1929 by a resolution of the government, the Board ...
(CBSE) and the
National Institute of Open Schooling
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) (), formerly National Open School is a national level board of education in India, controlled and managed by the Government of India. It was established by the Ministry of Education (erstwhile Mi ...
(NIOS).
As per a survey conducted in 2001, Delhi had some 2416 primary, 715 middle and 1576 secondary schools.
In 2004–05, approximately 1.5 million students were enrolled in primary schools, 822,000 in middle schools and 669,000 in secondary schools across Delhi. Female students represented 49% of the total enrolment. The same year, the Delhi government spent between 1.58% and 1.95% of its gross state domestic product on education.
Students can opt for two compulsory languages and an optional third language from the list of
Scheduled languages or Foreign languages. There is a
school under a metro bridge in Delhi which receives no funding or help from the government or any NGO and is run by eight volunteer teachers.
Happiness Curriculum
Happiness Curriculum is an educational program for students of grades from one to eight in the schools run by the
Government of Delhi
The Government of Delhi, officially the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD; ISO: ) is the governing body of India's National Capital Territory of Delhi, whose urban area is the seat of the Government of India. It also ...
. The objective of this program is to improve
mental wellbeing of students, and is based on the science of emotions. The curriculum deals with processes such as mindfulness,
Social-Emotional Learning,
critical thinking
Critical thinking is the process of analyzing available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to make sound conclusions or informed choices. It involves recognizing underlying assumptions, providing justifications for ideas and actions, ...
,
problem solving
Problem solving is the process of achieving a goal by overcoming obstacles, a frequent part of most activities. Problems in need of solutions range from simple personal tasks (e.g. how to turn on an appliance) to complex issues in business an ...
and relationship building. It was launched on 2 July 2018 and about eight lakh students in over thousand schools run by the Government of Delhi have been engaged through the program as of May 2020.
Patriotism Curriculum
A
Patriotism Curriculum was introduced for students of grades nursery to twelve on 28 September 2021.
Libraries
There are several libraries in Delhi, which are either maintained by the government bodies or private organisations. Some of the major libraries in Delhi region are:
*American Centre Library
*British Council Library
*
Delhi Public Library
Delhi Public Library is a national depository library in the Indian Union Territory of Delhi. The library has 37 branches across the state.
History
The library was established on 27 October 1951 as a pilot project sponsored by UNESCO and th ...
*Delhi University Library
*DayalSingh Public Library
*Ramakrishna Mission Library
*IARI Library (Pusa)
*
Indian Council of Historical Research
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Associated with India
* of or related to India
** Indian people
** Indian diaspora
** Languages of India
** Indian English, a dialect of the English language
** Indian cuisine
Associated with indigenous peoples o ...
*
Indian Council of Social Science Research
The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is the national body overseeing research in the social sciences in India. It was established in New Delhi
New Delhi (; ) is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the Delh ...
*Maharaja Fatehsinhrao Gaekwad Library and Documentation Centre
*Max Mueller Bhavan
*
National Archives of India
*National Science Library
*Russian Centre
*
Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute
*
Zakir Husain
Zakir Husain Khan (8 February 1897 – 3 May 1969) was an Indian educationist and politician who served as the vice president of India from 1962 to 1967 and president of India from 13 May 1967 until his death on 3 May 1969.
Born in H ...
Central Library,
Jamia Millia Islamia
Jamia Millia Islamia is a Public university, public and research university located in Delhi, India. Originally established at Aligarh, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) during the British R ...
University
See also
*
Industrial training institute
*
List of educational institutions in Delhi
*
List of colleges under Delhi University
The University of Delhi (UOD), informally known as Delhi University (DU), is a collegiate university, collegiate Public university, public Central University (India), central university, located in New Delhi, India. It was founded in 1922 by an ...
*
New Era Public School, Delhi
References
Further reading
*
External links
Delhi GovernmentDelhi Directorate of Education
{{DEFAULTSORT:Education in Delhi