Srinagar, July 29: In a major milestone for higher education in Jammu and Kashmir, the University of Kashmir has been granted the prestigious Category-I status by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the UGC (Categorisation of Universities for Grant of Graded Autonomy) Regulations, 2018.
The decision was approved during the UGC’s 598th Commission meeting held on July 6, 2026, making the University eligible for enhanced academic, administrative, and financial autonomy available to India’s top-performing higher education institutions.
Welcoming the recognition, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nilofer Khan described it as a landmark achievement in the University’s pursuit of academic excellence. She expressed gratitude to Chancellor Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Pro-Chancellor Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Higher Education Minister Sakina Itoo for their continued support in strengthening higher education in Jammu and Kashmir.
Prof. Khan also congratulated the University’s students, scholars, faculty, and non-teaching staff, stating that the enhanced autonomy would be utilised to expand academic programmes, strengthen research and innovation, and promote national and international collaborations.
She added that the Category-I status would significantly boost the University’s global academic profile by enabling collaborations with leading international institutions, facilitating the engagement of foreign faculty, admitting international students, and introducing new Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programmes in accordance with UGC regulations.
Registrar Prof. Naseer Iqbal also hailed the achievement, saying the greater autonomy would enable the University to respond more effectively to emerging academic and research priorities while further strengthening institutional governance.
