LizzieSugerman6 at 12:20, 18 January 2026

2026-01-18T12:20:26Z

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{{Short description|University in Andhra Pradesh, India}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox university
| name = KL University
| image = KL University logo.svg
| established = 1980
| type = [[Deemed to be University]]
| endowment =
| president = Koneru Satyanarayana<ref name=leadership/>
| chancellor = Koneru Satyanarayana
| vice_chancellor = G. Pardha Saradhi Varma<ref name=leadership>{{cite web |title=Leadership |url=http://klef.edu.in/leadership.aspx |website=klef.edu.in |publisher=KL Deemed to be University |access-date=16 December 2019 |archive-date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215172955/http://klef.edu.in/leadership.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| dean =
| students =
| undergrad =
| postgrad =
| doctoral =
| address = Green Fields
| city = [[Vaddeswaram]], [[Guntur district]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| postcode = 522502
| country = India
| campus = KLEF [[Vijayawada]]: {{convert|0.404686|km2|acre|0|abbr=on}}<br />KLEF [[Hyderabad]] (temporary campus): {{convert|0.09290304|km2|acre|0|abbr=on}}
| former_names = Koneru Lakshmaiah University, Koneru Lakshmaiah College of Engineering
| other_names = K L Deemed to be University
| language = English
| free_label =
| free =
| colours = {{color box|darkred}} Red
| colors =
| sports_nickname =
| mascot =
| website = {{URL|http://kluniversity.in}}
| staff =
| faculty =
| coordinates = {{Coord|16|26|32|N|80|37|21|E|display=inline, title}}
}}

'''K L University''', formerly '''Koneru Lakshmaiah College of Engineering''' ('''KLCE''') and '''Koneru Lakshmaiah University''', is a higher educational institution [[Deemed to be University]], located in [[Vaddeswaram]], near [[Vijayawada]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], India. Established in 1980 as a college of engineering, it consists of eight schools, offering academic programs at UG, PG, doctoral, and post-doctoral industry-focused courses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to KLEF Deemed to be University |url=https://www.kluniversity.in/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=www.kluniversity.in}}</ref>

As of 2025, the university has been barred from [[National Assessment and Accreditation Council|NAAC]] accreditation for 5 years after reports of [[NAAC rating bribery case|bribing the assessor team]] to receive favourable ranking.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-08 |title=Week after CBI arrested 10 in NAAC 'bribery scam', Andhra university at centre of row barred from accreditation for 5 years |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/education/cbi-naac-bribery-scam-andhra-university-centre-accreditation-9824953/lite/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

==History==

KLEF was established in 1980 at [[Vaddeswaram]] as K L College of Engineering (KLCE). It became autonomous in 2006 and was recognized as [[deemed to be university]] in 2009, known as K L University.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inception & History |url=http://klef.edu.in/inception-history.aspx |website=klef.edu.in |publisher=KL Deemed to be University |access-date=16 December 2019 |archive-date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215173434/http://klef.edu.in/inception-history.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> Following the [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission]]'s warning to 123 deemed institutes, not to use "university" in the name<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pandey |first1=Neelam |title=UGC warning to institutes: Drop 'university' from name or lose 'deemed' status |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/ugc-warning-to-educational-institutes-drop-university-from-name-or-lose-deemed-status/story-sp7sIXxOL4pPjWnIZvTi7H.html |access-date=16 December 2019 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=29 November 2017 |language=en}}</ref> it was renamed Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF). In 2019, it was renamed K L Deemed to be University.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-29|title=UGC Issued Warning Against Deemed Universities: Use of word 'University' Prohibited, Check List of 127 Deemed Universities Recognised by UGC|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/articles/ugc-issued-warning-against-127-deemed-universities-use-of-word-university-prohibited-check-list-1590581518-1|access-date=2021-06-04|website=Jagranjosh.com}}.</ref>

== Location ==
Koneru Lakshmaiah Deemed to be University is situated in a {{convert|100|acre|ha|adj=on}} site adjacent to [[Buckingham Canal]], and is about {{convert|8|km|mi}} from [[Vijayawada]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=K L UNIVERSITY · Vaddeswaram, Andhra Pradesh 522303, India |url=https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/K+L+UNIVERSITY,+Vaddeswaram,+Andhra+Pradesh+522303/@16.4418519,80.620358,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x3a35f0a2a073957d:0xe79d66babc83e470!8m2!3d16.4415213!4d80.6222849!16s/g/1hjh4_l12?entry=ttu |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=K L UNIVERSITY · Vaddeswaram, Andhra Pradesh 522303, India |language=en}}</ref> in [[Krishna district]] and {{convert|33|km|mi}} from [[Guntur]]. The university is in [[Guntur district]].

==Schools==
KLEF includes the following schools:<ref>{{cite web |title=Schools A-Z |url=http://klef.edu.in/schools-az.aspx |website=klef.edu.in |publisher=KL Deemed to be University |access-date=16 December 2019 |archive-date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215173059/http://klef.edu.in/schools-az.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* K L College of Engineering
* K L School of Science & Humanities
* K L School of Architecture
* K L School of Management
* K L School of Fine Arts
* K L School of Commerce
* K L School of Pharmacy
* K L School of Law
* K L School of Agriculture
* Center for Distance and Online Education

== Rankings ==

In the [[National Institutional Ranking Framework]] (NIRF) 2024, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation has been ranked 40th overall in India,<ref>{{Cite web |title=NIRF INDIA 2024 |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/Rankings/2024/OverallRanking.html}}</ref> 22nd among universities,<ref>{{Cite web |title=university ranking 2024 |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/Rankings/2024/UniversityRanking.html}}</ref> 79th in the management category,<ref>{{Cite web |title=management rankings 2024 |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/Rankings/2024/ManagementRanking.html}}</ref> and 35th in engineering.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NIRF India Rankings 2024: Engineering |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/Rankings/2024/EngineeringRanking.html}}</ref>{{Infobox India university ranking|NIRF_E_2024=35|type=University}}

== Controversies ==

=== NAAC rating bribery case ===
KL University became the center of a [[NAAC rating bribery case|bribery investigation]] after the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] arrested the chairman and six members of a [[National Assessment and Accreditation Council]] Inspection Committee on 1 February 2025. The arrests were made over allegations that bribes were paid to secure a favorable NAAC accreditation rating. The CBI conducted raids across 20 locations in India, including Chennai, Bangalore, and New Delhi, recovering {{INRConvert|3700|k}} in cash, gold, mobile phones, and laptops.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Srinivas |first=Rajulapudi |date=2025-02-02 |title=KLEF management charged with colluding with NAAC team to get good ranking |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/klef-management-charged-with-colluding-with-naac-team-to-get-good-ranking/article69172877.ece |access-date=2025-02-03 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The alleged bribery was traced back to office bearers of KL University, leading to the arrest of several key individuals linked to the institution, including:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2025-02-02 |title=KLEF top brass arrested in NAAC bribery case |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/vijayawada/2025/Feb/02/klef-top-brass-arrested-in-naac-bribery-case |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

* G P Saradhi Varma – Vice-Chancellor, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF), Guntur
* Koneru Raja Hareen – Vice-President, KLEF
* A Ramakrishna – Director, KL University, Hyderabad campus

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.kluniversity.in/ Official website]

{{Universities in Andhra Pradesh}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Universities in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Guntur district]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1980]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in Andhra Pradesh]]

KL University - Revision history

LizzieSugerman6 at 12:20, 18 January 2026