MGKVP-Affiliated Colleges in Varanasi

Commonly called “UP College Varanasi”, Udai Pratap Autonomous College is one of the oldest higher-education institutions in eastern Uttar Pradesh — founded in 1909 by Raja Sir Udai Pratap Singh of Bhinga estate. The campus sits in Bhojubir, central Varanasi, with extensive grounds and one of the largest student populations among MGKVP-affiliated co-ed institutions in the region.

Programmes offered (broad): B.A., B.Sc, B.Com, BBA, BCA, M.A., M.Sc, M.Com, B.Ed, plus a number of specialised diploma programmes. UP College is autonomous within the MGKVP framework, meaning it has more curriculum flexibility than purely affiliated colleges — but the final degree is still MGKVP-issued and carries the same UGC 2(f) + 12(B) recognition.

BITE comparison: Both colleges are MGKVP-affiliated and award degrees with identical national equivalence. UP College's advantages: longer heritage (115+ years), larger student population, central Varanasi location. BITE's relative advantages: focused 5-acre Babatpur campus, NCTE-approved teacher-training (B.Ed, B.P.Ed, D.El.Ed — UP College has B.Ed but not B.P.Ed/D.El.Ed), newer AICTE-approved AKTU MBA (2026-27), and a smaller cohort per programme (closer faculty access).

DAV PG College (Dayanand Anglo-Vedic) is one of the oldest colleges in Varanasi, established in 1898 and part of the broader DAV trust network (founded by Lala Hansraj following Swami Dayanand Saraswati's teaching). The campus is in Bhelupur, central Varanasi, and remains MGKVP-affiliated for degree issuance.

Programmes offered: B.A., B.Sc, B.Com (traditional commerce programmes are particularly well-known), M.A., M.Sc, M.Com. The college has a strong reputation in Commerce and Arts streams. Limited science / professional programme offerings compared to multidisciplinary peers.

BITE comparison: DAV PG College's strength is its Commerce-stream depth and 125+ year heritage. BITE's strengths are multidisciplinary breadth (15 programmes including BCA, BBA, B.Ed, B.P.Ed, D.El.Ed, AKTU MBA — all of which DAV PG doesn't offer), purpose-built computing labs, and a campus focused on professional-track + teacher-training programmes alongside traditional UG/PG.

Vasanta College for Women (often shortened to Vasanta College) is located at Rajghat in Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges. Founded in 1954 by the Krishnamurti Foundation India lineage, the college specifically serves women students from Varanasi and surrounding districts. Affiliated to MGKVP for degree issuance.

Programmes offered: B.A., B.Sc, B.Com, M.A., B.Ed (women only). The college's campus along the Ganges riverfront, with a focus on values- based women's education in the J. Krishnamurti tradition, gives it a distinctive culture.

BITE comparison: Vasanta is women-only and culturally rooted in the Krishnamurti tradition. BITE is co-educational with full women-student support (on-campus girls' hostel, sports, NSS unit) but no women-only restriction. For women candidates evaluating both: Vasanta offers a women-only environment + Ganges-side campus; BITE offers broader programme choice (BCA, BBA, B.P.Ed, MBA — none of which Vasanta offers) and co-ed peer interaction.

Arya Mahila PG College(founded 1937, ~5,000 students) at Chetganj, Varanasi is one of the oldest women's colleges in eastern UP. Affiliated to MGKVP for B.A., B.Sc, B.Com, M.A., M.Sc, and B.Ed programmes. Known particularly for arts and home-science streams.

Agrasen Kanya PG College(founded by the Agrawal community in Varanasi, ~3,000 students) is another women-only MGKVP-affiliated institution serving Varanasi's commerce-stream women students.

BITE comparison: Both are excellent women-only institutions with traditional strength in arts / commerce. BITE serves a different niche — co-educational, professionally-oriented programmes (BCA, BBA, B.P.Ed, AKTU MBA), purpose-built labs, plus a stronger teacher-training cluster (B.Ed, B.P.Ed, D.El.Ed). Many women candidates apply to BITE for BCA / BBA / B.P.Ed since neither Arya Mahila nor Agrasen Kanya offers these.

Harish Chandra PG College (est. 1916) is a co-educational government-aided institution offering BA/B.Sc/B.Com/MA/M.Com/B.Ed. Known for its traditional arts faculty.

Kashi Naresh Government PG College (est. 1959) is one of the fully-government colleges, offering standard UG/PG arts and commerce.

Mahila Mahavidyalaya(founded 1953, part of the BHU adjunct network but MGKVP-degree-issuing for some programmes) — small women's institution with focused arts offerings.

Sudhakar Mahila PG College(est. 1969) is another government- aided women's institution offering BA/B.Sc/B.Com/MA programmes.

For the complete MGKVP-affiliated college list, see the table above or visit mgkvp.ac.in directly.