University means an institution of higher learning with teaching and research facilities targeted to achieving knowledge generation capabilities amongst the students, blending passion, reason and courage in personal commitment to the ideals of society. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru has rightly said:

“A University stands for humanism, for tolerance, for reason, for the adventure of ideas and for the search for truth. It stands for the onward march of the human race towards even higher objectives, if the Universities discharge their duties adequately, then, it is well with the Nation and the People.”

In order to meet these objectives, Ranchi University was established on July 12, 1960. Emergence of this University was in fact a historic event in the sense that it heralded a new era in the realm of higher education catering to the needs of the people of Jharkhand.

There are 8 faculties, 23 University departments, 15 constituent and 12 affiliated colleges, 3 autonomous colleges, 1 medical college, 2 psychiatry institutes, 4 technical institutes and 1 law college followed by Adult Continuing Education and Extension Department and Academic Staff College.

As recognition to women empowerment Ranchi University established 8 colleges exclusively meant for girls and the remaining colleges are also co-educational in nature. Recent addition of Women Studies Centre at Ranchi Women's College is another step in this direction.

The University offers a wide range of academic programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels including doctorate programmes in all the branches of basic sciences, allied sciences, medical and engineering sciences, social sciences, humanities and commerce.

In addition, the University Departments and Colleges impart add-on certificate, diploma, advanced diploma and PG Diploma courses. Besides regular courses, the University offers several professional self-financing courses such as MCA, MBA, M.Sc. (Electronics & Communication) and PG Diploma in Medicinal Plants.

In pursuit of India Vision 2020, the University envisions opening more job-oriented professional courses under the self-financing scheme in Management Science, Information Technology, Biotechnology, Bio-informatics, Biophysics, Biochemistry, Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Archaeology & Museology, Food Processing & Bakery, Nursing, Disaster and Human Resource Management, Microbiology, Information and Library Science, Environmental Studies, Mass Communication, Public Administration, Social Work and Rural Development.

The University has already launched Parents Teachers Meet in the Colleges and University Departments to ensure regular attendance of students in classrooms and hence their well-being. E-journals have also been made available through INFLIBNET to students, scholars and teachers, with connectivity extended to University Departments.

ISRO-sponsored EDUSAT facilities have been installed at Ranchi Women's College to bring home the concept of Virtual Interactive Classrooms. Significant progress has also been achieved in the direction of campus networking.

Dear recipient of degrees, I am very pleased to share with you that the different programmes of Ranchi University seek to address the new realities of the changing academic and business scenario of the world, while leveraging your natural talents and interests.

We emphasize developing your problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills. Faculty teams work with students and mentor them to enhance their capacity to work effectively with other people and develop a mindset that will help them deal confidently with complex situations.

Indeed, we aim at the development of the total personality of the student. Your academic success is what this new State of Jharkhand needs at this critical phase of its development.

I hope that the seed of inquiry that has been planted in each of you will grow throughout — a lifelong commitment to learning. In the months and years ahead, our doors will be open to welcome each of you back to the University to update your skills and knowledge or to follow other paths of personal development.

In pursuit of India Vision 2020, we plan to elevate our faculty, improve our graduate and undergraduate programmes, strengthen the arts, commerce and science courses, further strengthen our technical and professional education, diversify and globalize our university community, improve our libraries and access to information technology.

We wish to enrich our campus, build stronger ties to society, increase our endowment, improve our governance, and better serve the State of Jharkhand and the nation.