Certainly not. JU's English and Comparative Literature Departments are globally renowned. Their Maths department has a decent reputation too, as do their International Relations and Linguistics departments. Please stop passing off your uninformed opinion as facts. As for your comment about the CPM, this was a case under the TMC government when JU was shortlisted for IoE status and it was not about state control, it was about the Central Government changing rules midway between the process, with a deliberate attempt to sabotage it.

That's precisely the point. JU wanted to be a national university, without the CPM wanting to give up control and influence (having the cake and eating it too). Also, the key point to remember is that only JU's engineering department is worth talking about. Other departments are average to below average, ▮▮▮

Not in case of JU. The Central Government had changed the rules at the last moment and asked the state to pitch in with a huge sum of money, which it knew wouldn't be possible for the State. The university had even requested for the autonomy alone, claiming that they would be able to self-finance their activities, however the Central Government did not agree to that. So this is an example of a fully qualified eminent university losing out because of politics between Central and State governments.

These are valid points. Let me also cite two more opposite examples: There was a proposal to convert Jadavpur U (Kolkata) and Anna U (Chennai) into national universities. But here's the catch - the respective state universities first have to agree on the same. In both the above cases, the respective state government did not cease control and influence over these universities - hence, even today, they are state universities. Converting a state university into a national university has many implications - the most visible being the discontinuation of the domicile quota. With the political climate in the various state governments, the likelihood of a state government giving up a state NLU for nationalization is zero.

Yes, I agree — NLUs are technically state universities. No denial there.

But here's something people conveniently forget: once upon a time, even the IITs and NITs were state-run institutions. For example:

IIT Roorkee was a state engineering college (Thomason College of Civil Engineering).

IIT BHU was part of Banaras Hindu University.

IIT Dhanbad was the Indian School of Mines under state control.

NITs were all called Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs), fully state-managed in collaboration with the Centre.

Over time, these institutions were recognised for their contribution and granted INI (Institute of National Importance) status.

So if you're mocking NLUs for being "state universities", you're basically mocking the early stages of every great institution in India. We’re on the same trajectory.

Also, let’s clear this — we don't look down on any institution that gets INI status. In fact, we want it. We need it. Because we believe law education is just as important as tech or medicine in building the nation. So why shouldn’t NLUs be recognised for the national impact we already make?

So next time before throwing shade, just remember: today's “state university” can be tomorrow’s “national pride.”

Chill. Never going to happen, two reasons:.

- NLUs are state universities. Do the NLUs have the courage to get rid of the domicile quotas?
- What do NLUs do that is of 'national' importance? Even the respective states don't care about NLUs.

The interesting thing is that the NLU-Bhakhts look down upon any institution that receives the INI status, but deep down yearn for the same.