Delhi Govt Approves ₹1,668 Crore Ambedkar University Dheerpur Campus to Expand Capacity, Boost Research and NEP-Based Learning

Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD), Delhi government, Dheerpur campus, National Education Policy (NEP), higher education infrastructure, and AI in education are drawing attention after the Delhi government approved a ₹1,668 crore project to develop AUD's new Dheerpur campus. The initiative aims to address space constraints, accommodate rising student enrolment, strengthen research, and create a modern, technology-enabled learning environment aligned with the National Education Policy.

Vice Chancellor Anu Singh Lather said the long-awaited Dheerpur campus project has gained momentum following the new government's approval. The revised project cost has increased from the earlier estimate of ₹1,199 crore to ₹1,668 crore after the Public Works Department updated construction estimates.

According to Lather, the university has already finalised architectural plans for both the proposed Dheerpur and Rohini campuses, with construction set to begin at Dheerpur. She expressed confidence that the project could be completed in around three years, subject to timelines finalised by the Public Works Department.

The upcoming campus will feature smart classrooms, technology-enabled teaching spaces, collaborative work areas, open discussion zones and student-centric learning facilities designed in line with the principles of the National Education Policy. Lather said the new infrastructure would enable the university to overcome long-standing space limitations and support future academic expansion.

AUD has witnessed rapid growth in enrolment, with student strength increasing from nearly 2,400 in 2019 to around 6,300 across four campuses. The university expects this figure to reach approximately 7,000 by the end of the year following the introduction of one-year postgraduate programmes and expanded PhD admissions. To support this growth, a new academic block with 18 classrooms has also been added at the Karampura campus.

The university has launched one-year postgraduate programmes in seven disciplines, open to graduates from all universities who have completed four-year undergraduate degrees. Psychology, Economics and English have emerged as the most sought-after courses.

Lather also highlighted AUD's growing emphasis on research and innovation. The university has significantly increased publications in internationally indexed journals, improving its institutional h-index from zero in 2019 to around 30–32. It has introduced annual faculty research awards, doubled PhD fellowships from ₹8,000 to ₹16,000 per month, and integrated artificial intelligence into selected humanities and social science programmes with guidance from academic and industry experts.