The Central Sanskrit University

Overview

The Central Sanskrit University (CSU) is the largest higher education institution of its kind in India, and the largest language University in the world. With 12 campuses, 184 affiliated institutions (including colleges), 26 Adarsh Institutes, and 13 special schemes, it has a presence in multiple states of India. The headquarters are in Janakpuri in New Delhi, with the 12 locations being spread across 11 states in every region of India. Uttar Pradesh is the only state with two CSU campuses, in Prayagraj and the capital city of Lucknow.

The Placement Cell works with students across all CSU campuses to provide internships and jobs. Even though the placement percentage is relatively low (32% for PG students and 38% for UG students), there are still multiple professional opportunities provided to students of the University, primarily in the teaching and translation sectors. 

The 12 campuses of Central Sanskrit University have world class academic and extracurricular activities. Most locations have hostels, and several campuses have unique Sanskrit language labs. Physical fitness is also a priority, with outdoor games grounds and indoor gyms available on campus. Students of the University organize regular cultural events and competitions, with the Yuva Festival being an annual display of talent across all 12 campuses. 31 campus committees ensure the smooth running of all departments of the University, and facilitate transparent operations with Cells dedicated to digital learning, human rights, differently abled students and personality development.

Highlights

Fees

The academic fees for students of the Central Sanskrit University have multiple components e.g. tuition fees, examination charges, registration fees, and caution deposits. The fee structure is as follows:

• For PG programs:
  • Recurring fees:
    • Tuition fee: INR 1,500 per semester.
    • Library usage charges: INR 200 per semester.
    • Art and craft fee: INR 200 per semester.
    • Sports fee: INR 100 per semester.
  • One time fees (payable in the first semester):
    • Admission processing fee: INR 200.
    • Admission fee: INR 300.
    • Academic enrollment fee: INR 100.
    • Caution deposit: Library: INR 400 (refundable).
    • Identity card fee: INR 100.
    • Students’ Welfare fund contribution: INR 400.
    • Magazine fee: INR 100.
• For UG programs:
  • Recurring fees:
    • Tuition fee: INR 1,000 per semester.
    • Other recurring fees (similar to those for PG students): INR 500 per semester.
  • One time fees: INR 1,600 (payable at the time of admission; structure is similar to that for PG courses).

The hostel and mess fees for students who choose to stay on campus vary according to the location in which the student is enrolled. For example, the living cost for students in the CSU Jaipur campus is INR 1,500 per year (hostel rent), in addition to a one time payment of INR 2,000 (hostel caution deposit - refundable at the time of graduation), and INR 1,500 to INR 2,000 per month (mess charges based on actuals). Only students who live at least 50 km from their CSU campus will be allowed to live in the hostel; other candidates must budget for the cost of daily transportation to attend classes.

Admissions

The eligibility criteria for admission to the Central Sanskrit University, are as follows:

• UG programs:
  • Applicants must have a valid CUET UG score with Sanskrit as a subject.
  • Candidates must have a 10+2 equivalent qualification in any of the following:
    • Uttara Madhyama issued by any recognized Sanskrit University or Sanskrit Council.
    • Any higher secondary Standard XII examination under any recognized Board of Higher Secondary education in India or abroad.
    • Veda Vibhushan examination.
• PG programs:
  • Students must have one of the following qualifications:
    • BA in Sanskrit, Pali or Buddhist Studies (depending on the MA degree for which the student is applying), or BSc in Yoga (for applicants to the MSc program in Yogic Science) from a recognized Higher Education Institution.
    • BA in Oriental Learning.
    • Shastri degree from any recognized Sanskrit University.
    • Any state level Sanskrit degree is recognized (e.g. Shastra Bhushan - Preliminary Level - awarded by the Kerala Government, or Vidvadmadhyama awarded by the Government of Karnataka).
  • Applicants must have a valid CUET (PG) score.

Students who wish to apply to the Central Sanskrit University must follow these steps:

• All applications to programs offered by CSU must be submitted via the Samarth portal of the Government of India.
• Students must fill up the application form with accurate data. Any error found at a later stage can lead to cancellation of the application.
• Applicants must upload self attested soft copies of the following documents, and present the originals for verification at the time of admission:
  • Pass certificate from the most recent qualifying examination.
  • Detailed mark lists and academic transcripts.
  • Transfer and migration certificates.
  • Good conduct certificate issued by the head of the latest academic institution.
  • Address and identity proof (ideally the Aadhaar card of the candidate).
  • Caste and income certificate, if applicable.
  • Certificate of medical fitness.
  • Anti-ragging undertaking signed by the students.
• Two merit lists are prepared for UG and PG students. The first merit list is for students with valid CUET scores. However, if any seats are left vacant after the first merit list is published, Central Sanskrit University may conduct a Special Admission Drive or Campus Admission Test to prepare a second merit list.
• Students who wish to join Central Sanskrit University must pay the first installment of the fees (for the first semester) to start the academic registration process.

Placements

As one of the top Universities in India, the placement highlights of the Central Sanskrit University are as follows: 

• The Placement Cell acts as a central body to provide professional opportunities to students in all 12 campuses of CSU. It has several functions:
  • Corporate Relations: Contacting companies in different sectors and inviting them to one or more of the CSU campuses for recruitment drives.
  • Organizing pre-placement talks and interactive sessions with company authorities.
  • Providing internship opportunities to students and conducting selection drives for summer and winter part time employment and training.
  • Organizing workshops and training sessions to ensure that students of all programs are prepared for the internship and final placement season.
• Final year students of CSU are required to register on the Placement Cell portal to participate in the placement process; similarly pre-final year students can sign up to apply to relevant internship opportunities.
• Each campus has an Admin who maintains the schedule of company placement drives, shares the relevant job descriptions with students, transfers resumes of interested students to potential recruiters, and ensures that interviews are conducted smoothly.
• The average (median) placement salaries over the past three years offered to students of different program types are:
  • UG 3 year programs: INR 2 LPA (up by 11% from INR 1.8 LPA two years previously).
  • PG 2 year programs: INR 3 LPA (up by 25% from INR 2.4 LPA two years earlier).
• The ratio of students receiving at least one job offer during the final placement season to the total number of graduating students varies by program type:
  • UG 3 year programs: 308 students successfully placed out of 814 registered graduating students (38%).
  • PG 2 year programs: 320 out of 1,000 (32%).
• The Placement Cell also maintains a database of open opportunities for Sanskrit teachers at all the institutes affiliated with Central Sanskrit University across the country. There are jobs available at every level, from guest teachers to part time lecturers at the more junior levels, to Principal roles for highly qualified research scholars. There are also translation jobs available in affiliated colleges and companies (in both the public and private sector).

Cut-Offs

In a manner similar to other Central Universities, there are no CUET UG or CUET PG cut-offs announced ahead of time for admission to the programs offered by Central Sanskrit University.

Faculty & Alumni

The Central Sanskrit University is home to 507 full time Faculty members. Of these, 382 (75%) are Assistant Professors, 20 (4%) are Associate Professors, and the remaining 105 (21%) are full Professors. Most Faculty members (428 out of 507, or 84%) hold PhD degrees. Together, they work to establish a common curriculum for all levels of study across the 12 campuses of CSU and all affiliated colleges. They also work closely with the Placement Cell to ensure that the curriculum is aligned with the teaching requirements for Sanskrit Lecturers across India.

The Alumni Association of Central Sanskrit University caters to the needs of graduates of CSU from all 12 campuses in 11 unique states, with more than 50 years of history since the first graduating batch. It aims to bring together alumni of the University to set the agenda for its evolution and to brainstorm on the best possible curriculum for current students. It also works with alumni to promote Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Pali education, while utilizing their personal and professional networks to further the cause of Indian cultural education. It also publishes high quality research findings in the form of journals, and works with the alumni cells of State Sanskrit Universities to promote the language. Individual campuses of CSU have their own Alumni Cooperation Cells under the guidance of the main Alumni Association.

Scholarships

As in other top Universities in India, there are multiple financial aid options available to students of the Central Sanskrit University. As of 2024, 2,891 out of 5,616 students (51%) receive full tuition fee waivers from the Central and State Governments; all of these are from various reserved categories. 1,753 UG students receive full tuition fee waivers because of economic or social disadvantages, and 1,138 PG students receive 100% scholarships. The primary scholarships open to students of the University are:

1. Merit Scholarships: These are awarded to students pursuing Sanskrit, Pali, and Prakrit studies at all levels throughout the country, including at constituent campuses of the Central Sanskrit University. The minimum eligibility is based on the aggregate percentage in the relevant subjects scored in the most recent annual examination at any level. The cut-off is 60% for General Category students, 55% for OBC students, and 50% for SC, ST, and PwD category applicants. As this is a national level scholarship, advertisements are placed in the print editions of the most prominent Indian newspapers in July every year, and the full tuition fee scholarship is awarded to a number of students annually based on the total corpus of Central Government funds allotted, and the number of applicants. The Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan works closely with the University to conduct the scholarship selection process every year, and to formulate the rules related to eligibility and application procedure.

2. Individual campuses of Central Sanskrit University also offer merit scholarships to their students. For example, CSU Sringeri offers tuition fee scholarships to students at six levels of study, from Prak Shastri (INR 600 per month) to Vidya Varidhi (INR 8,000 per month). These are awarded to up to 60% of students in each batch based on academic excellence and merit (as decided by the Scholarship Committee after going through all applications), and students must maintain good attendance and conduct to receive financial aid throughout their degree program. The scholarships are awarded for ten months every year for up to two years (for research scholars). The award of these scholarships is usually decided at the time of entry. However, if seats are left vacant and there are deserving candidates in higher years, second and third year students may also be considered.

The larger national level scholarships offered by Central Sanskrit University have a completely online application procedure, and students can use the CSU portal to submit soft copies of the documents required. All students of any level, from high school to doctoral level, are eligible to apply, except candidates who are pursuing their second PhD degrees.

Preparation & FAQs

Admissions to Central Sanskrit University require candidates to submit valid CUET UG or CUET PG entrance examination scores. Candidates must first go through the syllabus for the Sanskrit subject paper carefully. Both exam websites also have an Information Bulletin and an Application Guide, so that interested applicants can choose their study and practice resources carefully. Finally, students should consider purchasing a test series for their chosen subject(s) if they are already familiar with the subject material, or attending in-person training classes if they need to strengthen their theoretical understanding of Sanskrit.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which is the top University in India?

The Central Sanskrit University is one of the best Universities in India. It is ranked #40 among the best Central Universities in India, according to the IIRF 2024 ranking list.

Q. What are the application fees to the Central Sanskrit University?

The application fees to the Central Sanskrit University vary according to the level of the program to which the student is applying (undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD). For most programs, the application fee is INR 2,000 for general category students, while it is INR 1,000 for SC, ST, and PwD applicants.

Q. What are the expected dates of the Central Sanskrit University recruitment 2025?

The expected dates, mode of application, and submission deadlines for all part time and full time roles offered by the Central Sanskrit University in 2025 can be found on its website. The page has details of both teaching vacancies and roles in allied departments e.g. civil work.

Q. Does Central Sanskrit University run distance education programs?

Central Sanskrit University has an online portal called MSP (Mukta Swadhyaya Peetham) to promote open and distance education for students of all levels and ages. Through the portal, it offers 16 certificate courses, 6 advanced certificate programs, 6 diploma programs, 4 advanced diploma programs, and 4 proficiency level programs.

Q. What events does Central Sanskrit University conduct at an all India level?

Central Sanskrit University conducts a national level Sanskrit Elocution Competition. There are state level selection rounds with 4 different recitation competitions at the all India level with the top 320 students across the country. The first prize in each carries a gold medal and a cash award of INR 12,000, with the second and third prizes being INR 8,000 and INR 5,000 respectively.

Q. What is the program fee for students enrolled in the distance education programs offered by Central Sanskrit University?

Central Sanskrit University offers 36 certificate and diploma programs through the MSP open and distance education mode. The fee varies according to the type and duration of the program. For example, the six month Certificate Program in Sanskrit has a total fee of INR 1,700 for Indian citizens, INR 4,200 for citizens of other SAARC countries, and USD 175 for citizens of non-SAARC nations.

Q. What are the expected dates of CUET PG 2025?

CUET PG 2025 is expected to be held over several dates in March 2025, as a computer based test. These scores will be used as the basis for admission to Central Sanskrit University.

Q. What are the expected dates of CUET UG 2025?

CUET UG 2025 is expected to be held over the third and fourth weeks of May 2025.