Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), established in 1920 in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, by visionaries such as Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari, was conceived as a national institution emphasizing progressive education and Indian nationalism. In 1925, it relocated to Delhi, eventually settling in its current Okhla campus in 1935. In 1988, JMI was granted Central University status by an act of Parliament.

Today, JMI offers a comprehensive educational system, from primary education to doctoral programs. The university comprises faculties in diverse fields, including Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Education, Humanities and Languages, Architecture, Fine Arts, Law, Dentistry, and Management Studies. Notably, the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre is renowned for its media studies. JMI also houses over thirty research centers, such as the Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution and the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, fostering interdisciplinary research and innovation.

Reflecting its commitment to academic excellence, JMI was accredited with an 'A++' grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in December 2021. The university's vision is to create an inclusive human universe characterized by equity, fellowship, justice, and peace. Its mission focuses on serving the nation through quality teaching and research, producing competent and sensitive human resources, and striving for the sustainable development of society