Astrology as a subject of study in degree courses was introduce by University Grant Commission (UGC) in year 2000. Prior to this some Sanskrit collages and institutes use to have astrology in their curriculum of Acharya and Shastri degrees. However, there was no dedicated degree courses in astrology such as B.A. and/or M.A. in astrology. In year 2000 then HRD minister Shri Murli Manohar Joshi ordered UGC to introduce astrology as ‘ Jyotir Vigyan’ degree course in Universities. This decision of HRD ministry by then BJP government ignited many rationalist, scientist and communist politicians. Two cases were filed against this decision, one in Madras High Court and the other in Andhra Pradesh High Court, both of which were dismissed. The petitioners from Andhra Pradesh filed an appeal in the Supreme Court and they subsequently lost the case there also. Shri K.N. Rao appeared as a private petitioner in this case in the Supreme Court to defend the cause of astrology which he did successfully. He has mentioned the details of this matter in his book “Jyotisha the super-science”.
However, things are still very miserable as far as teaching astrology is concern in India is concern as non of the top ranked Universities are offering any courses in this ancient subject. Delhi University , Calcutta University , Jawhar Lal Nehru University (JNU) are among the top ranked Indian Universities and none of these have have any astrology courses to offer. Only the Banaras Hindu University is among the premier Indian Universities which is teaching astrology as a degree subject in their affiliated collages.
Last year i filed an RTI ( UGCOM/R/2014/60299/1) to seek information from the UGC regarding the list of Indian Universities offering astrology courses. I got the following document in reply which is being reproduce here without any changes for the benefit of astrology lovers. If any interested person wants to learn more about courses being offered here then just ‘google’ it out and find out the contact number of concern authorities in the department of astrology in these Universities and/or Collages.
State/University Department
FACULTY: ORIENTAL LEARNING
STATE: ANDHRA PRADESH Department : Oriental Learning
Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth Jyotisha
STATE: BIHAR
K.S.Darbhanga Sanskrit Vishwa. Jyotisha
Jyotisha
* ( Govt. Sanskrit College, Patna )
Jyotisha
* ( Govt. Sanskrit College, Bhagalpur )
Jyotisha
* ( Dharamsamaj Sanskrit Coll.,
Muzaffarpur )
Jyotisha
* ( MARL Sanskrit College, Darbanga )
STATE: CHHATISGARH
Pt.Sunderlal Sharma Open University Jyotisha (Not a Deptt.)
STATE: DELHI
Sh.L.B.S.R.Sanskrit Vidyapeeth Jyotisha (Sidhant & Phalit)
STATE: GUJARAT
M.S.University of Baroda Jyotisha
# ( Baroda Sanskrit Mahavidayalaya )
Shree Somnath Sanskrit University Jyotisha
# ( University’s Constitutent College )
Jyotisha
STATE: KARNATAKA
Karnataka Sanskrit University Jyotisha
# ( Shri Manmaharaja Samskrit College )
STATE: MADHYA PRADESH
Jiwaji University Jyotir Vigyan
Vikram University Jyotir Vigyan
M.M.Yogi Vedic Vishwavidyalaya Jyotisha
Maharishi Panini Sanskrit Evam Vedic Jyotir Vigyan
Jyotisha (Siddhant)
STATE: MAHARASHTRA
Kavi K.Kalidas Sanskrit Vishwa. Jyotisha
STATE: ORISSA
Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishwavidy. Jyotir Vigyan
STATE: RAJASTHAN
Vardhman Mahavir Open University Jyotisha
Rajasthan University Jyotir Vigyan
J.R.N.Raj.Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya Jyotisha
J.Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth Jyotisha
# ( Research Instt of Rajashthan Studies )
Mody Instt. of Tech. & Science Jyotisha /Vedic Astrology(Under
Arts, Sc. & Comm)
STATE: TAMIL NADU
Annamalai University Jyotisha (Astrology-Under Deptt of
Tamil Studies)
Shanmugha Arts,Sc.,Tech.& Res.Acad.Jyotisha (Astrology)
Karpagam Acad. of Higher Education Jyotisha (Astrology)
STATE: TELANGANA
Potti Sriramulu Telugu University Jyotisha
STATE: UTTAR PRADESH
Banaras Hindu University Jyotisha
Lucknow University Jyotir Vigyan
Sampurnanand Sanskrit VishwavidyalyJyotisha
Central Instt.of Hr.Tibetan Studies Jyotisha
Nehru Gram Bharati University Jyotisha
STATE: UTTRAKHAND
Uttarakhand Sanskrit University Jyotisha
Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya Jyotisha & Vedic Karamkand
Uttarakhand Open University Jyotisha
Jyotisha (Falit)
Note: More recently on the 24th of June 2021 IGNOU (Indira Gandhi Open University) has also started its cours M.A. Jyotish through distance learning mode. Readers may search on the internet about astrology course offered by IGNOU.