The Maulana Azad National Urdu University Act, 1996 (Act No. 2 of 1997) was enacted by the Parliament of India on 8th January 1997, coming into force on 9th January 1998. Named after Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a prominent freedom fighter and India’s first Education Minister, the Act established the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) as a central university. The university was envisioned to promote and develop Urdu language and provide vocational and technical education in Urdu medium, catering to the linguistic and educational needs of Urdu-speaking communities across India.
The establishment of MANUU marked a significant step in preserving Urdu’s cultural and academic heritage while integrating it into modern education systems. The Act aimed to address the declining institutional support for Urdu by creating a national-level university that would offer traditional and distance education programs in Urdu, ensuring accessibility for students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. The university’s headquarters were set up in Hyderabad, a city with a rich Urdu literary tradition.

The Maulana Azad National Urdu University Act, 1996, established a unique institution dedicated to linguistic preservation and modern education. By combining traditional academic rigor with innovative distance learning, MANUU has played a pivotal role in empowering Urdu-speaking communities and contributing to India’s multilingual educational landscape. The Act’s emphasis on inclusivity, academic excellence, and cultural heritage continues to guide the university’s mission.