How many students—and how many women—are at AMU? How does it compare to other universities?

Aligarh Muslim University Election: More than 24,000 students are enrolled across Aligarh Muslim University’s main and off-campus locations. Women account for approximately 41 percent of the student body.

Aligarh Muslim University Election: After a long wait of eight years, the buzz surrounding student union elections has returned to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Since the university administration announced that elections would be held, the political temperature on campus has soared. Student leaders are making confident claims of victory, while reports of nomination cancellations and student protests continue to dominate the headlines.

Amidst this electoral fervor, all eyes are on the total number of student voters participating in the AMU elections, the proportion of women among them, and how the situation compares to other major universities across the country.

How many students and voters are there at AMU?

Aligarh Muslim University is one of the largest and most prestigious central universities in the country. According to current data, the total number of students enrolled across AMU’s main campus and its various departments ranges between approximately 24,000 and 28,000. In the context of the elections, a significant portion of this student population is eligible to cast votes for the main student union. As it is a residential university, the elections here are centered entirely on student interests and campus politics.

Women’s participation in campus elections and the electoral landscape

Women’s education has always been prioritized at AMU, with female students making up approximately 41 to 42 percent of the total student body. However, this year’s student union election involves a significant and intriguing complication, which has sparked a debate ranging from social media to the campus itself.

In fact, alongside the main AMU student union election, the university’s Women’s College—located about 2 kilometers away from the main campus—has its own separate student union. This year, approximately 4,000 female students from the Women’s College have been excluded from voting in the main AMU student union election, as separate elections are being held for the Women’s College student union.

This dual system and the rules governing separate unions have effectively denied a large segment of female students the right to vote in the main election, raising concerns about gender inequality and a lack of representation. Nevertheless, female candidates are still contesting for other positions within the main campus election.

How does this compare to other central universities?

When comparing the electoral environment and student population at AMU with other prominent central universities—such as Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi University (DU), or Jamia Millia Islamia—the situation appears quite different.

Delhi University (DU) is the country’s largest university, with over 150,000 student voters across its affiliated regular colleges. Elections there are held annually under the guidelines of the Lyngdoh Committee, and student wings of national political parties—such as the ABVP and NSUI—maintain a dominant influence. In contrast, AMU’s elections are not contested under the banners of external political parties; rather, they focus entirely on regional and student-centric issues.

At Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the total student population is approximately 8,000 to 9,000—significantly lower than that of AMU. JNU sees impressive political participation and high voter turnout among female students, and women have consistently been elected to top leadership positions within its main student union. Following the example of JNU, students at AMU are also demanding the restoration of their democratic rights.

The announcement of elections at AMU—the first in eight years—has had an impact on the neighboring Jamia Millia Islamia. Student union elections have long been suspended at Jamia as well; inspired by the developments at AMU, students there have now intensified their protests and launched a hunger strike to demand that elections be held.