Central University of Rajasthan (CURAJ) is a central university located in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. CURAJ has 12 schools, 36 academic departments and one community college covering technology, science, humanities, commerce, management, public policy and social science programs with a strong emphasis on scientific, technological and social education as well as research. Total student enrollment at the university exceeds 3000 and includes students from over 23 states.
History
CURAJ was established by an Act of Parliament[1] as a central university on 3 March 2009. The university was started in 2009-10 with two PG programmes namely M.Sc./M.A. statistics (actuarial) and M.Sc. Tech. mathematics in Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur. It shifted to R.K. Patni College, Kishangarh in 2010-11 and started six new PG programmes. In 2012-13, the university moved to its present location, on Jaipur-Ajmer Expressway (NH-8) at Bandar Sindri village of Ajmer district.
CURAJ is located on the Jaipur-Ajmer Expressway (NH-8), 83 kilometers (52 miles) from Jaipur and 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Ajmer, and measures more than 209 hectares (518 acres). This land was donated by the Government of Rajasthan in 2010, construction started in 2011 and by July 2012 the university had moved to its current location. The nearest commuter railway station is Kishangarh Station, and the nearest major railway station is the Ajmer Station.
The campus is in developing phase. The departments are functioning from temporary buildings and expected to move to their permanent places in 2016. An air-conditioned auditorium with a capacity of 1500 has been constructed on the temporary basis. The construction of the guest house is completed. The university has constructed the state-of-the-art permanent buildings for hostels and implemented the concept of rainwater harvesting successfully by creating seven ponds in the campus at different locations and a sewage treatment plant has also been constructed at the periphery whose outlet is used in watering plants.
The buildings are constructed using a fusion of traditional architectural features of Rajasthan with contemporary design elements. The chhatri and jaali are used in the buildings to give a unique blend of the traditional and modern architecture.
Sports facilities
The university has a football ground, a cricket ground, two basketball courts, two volleyball grounds and many fields for various other sports.[7]
Library
The university library has more than 31,000 books including references and subscribed more than 8000 online journals under e-ShodhSindhu (UGC- INFONET Digital Library) Consortium and more than 2,000 online journals being subscribed by the university library i.e. Science Direct, SciFinder, Bentham Science, EBSCO, ACM Digital Library & IEEE online journals. More than 100 national & international print journals also being subscribed by the university library.[8]
Organization and administration
Governance
Schools and departments
The university is organized into twelve schools, each of which has several departments:[9]
Schools
Departments
Architecture
Department of Architecture
DDU Kaushal Kendra
Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy
Department of Chemistry
Department of Pharmacy
Commerce & Management
Department of Commerce
Department of Management
Department of Hotel and Tourism Management
Earth Sciences
Department of Atmospheric Science
Department of Environmental Science
Sports Sciences, Yoga, and Education
Department of Sports-Biosciences
Department of Sports Biomechanics
Department of Sports Psychology
Department of Education
Department of Yoga
Engineering and Technology
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Department of Vocational Studies and Skill Development
Humanities & Languages
Department of English
Department of Hindi
Department of Linguistics
Life Sciences
Department of Biochemistry
Department of Biotechnology
Department of Microbiology
Mathematics, Statistics & Computational Sciences
Department of Computer Science
Department of Data Science & Analytics
Department of Mathematics
Department of Statistics
Physical Sciences
Department of Physics
Social Sciences
Department of Culture and Media Studies
Department of Economics
Department of Public Policy, Law and Governance
Department of Social Work
Department of Society - Technology Interface
Health Sciences (Interdisciplinary)
Department of Medical Laboratory Technology
Department of Neuroscience
Academics
Programmes
CURAJ offers academic and research programmes in technology, science, humanities, commerce, management, public policy and social sciences. This includes five year integrated M.Sc. programmes in various fields, leading to the degree of B.Sc. and M.Sc. These programmes have four core subjects in the 1st and 2nd year (semester I - IV), and only one subject as major (like honors degree) in 3rd year (semester V & VI) in which the student will pursue the M.Sc. degree. The university offers various PG programmes with specialization, M. A. programmes, M.Sc. programmes and three-year Integrated M.Sc. B.Ed programmes.
Central University of Rajasthan was ranked in the 151–200 band by the NIRF universities ranking of 2024. [20]
The university has received A++ Grade from NAAC.[21]
Research highlights
Student life
Activities
Besides academics, a range of societies and clubs exist for students like the student-run University Magazine called उdaan, the film club, the music club, the dance club, the photography club known as the Lenswala, The Mathletes, the Navsrijan Society and the Economics Society of CURAJ. The annual cultural fest is known as Marukriti. Math Earth, the Economania, Impresario and Myriad Hues are the annual fests of the respective department and student societies of the university. The university's students also participate in regional and national level inter-university fests and competitions like the Association of Indian Universities annual fest known as UNIFEST.[citation needed]
Halls of residence
Captain Vikram Batra Hostel/Hostel B5
Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal Hostel/Hostel B6
There are 6 residences (hostels), including 2 hostels for UG and PG male students, 2 hostels for UG and PG female students, one hostel for male research scholars, teaching and non-teaching staff and one hostel for female research scholars, teaching and non-teaching staff.[22]
Controversy
Student suicide
In 2016, a Ph.D. student from the Department of Mathematics, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in his hostel room.[23][24][25] A student of B.Sc. microbiology allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself in her hostel on the campus on 27 January 2023.[26] In another incident, a Ph.D. student from the Department of Social Works, who hailed from Ladakh, was found hanging in her hostel room on 26 July 2023.[27][28]
Security officer controversy
In August 2023, A female student accused the security officer of the university of clicking and circulating her photograph without her permission. Police reached the campus after students protested, and the university ordered an internal investigation. [29][30]