Maharaja Suhel Dev State University

Maharaja Suhel Dev University, previously known as Maharaja Suhel Dev State University, is a state university situated in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. It was established by the Government of Uttar Pradesh through a Gazette Notification dated 5 August 2019, and commenced its first academic session in 2021-2022 following a further notification in April 2021. The university is named after the legendary king Suhaldev of Shravasti, who is popularly credited with defeating the Ghaznavid general Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud at Bahraich in 1034 CE. Colleges in the Azamgarh and Mau districts, previously affiliated with Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University, Jaunpur, are now affiliated with this university. As of 2025, it has 468 affiliated colleges, comprising 14 grant-in-aid non-government colleges, 4 government colleges, and 450 self-financed colleges. The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and research (Ph.D.) courses. It also hosts a research center called 'Rangeya Raghav Shodhpeeth', established in February 2024, dedicated to advanced research in the Indian Knowledge System. In December 2024, the word 'State' was dropped from its name following an amendment to the Uttar Pradesh State University Act, 1973.