Jananayak Chandrashekhar University (JNCU), is a state university established in 2016 by Government of Uttar Pradesh in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh with 122 affiliated colleges. These 122 colleges of Ballia district were formerly affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi. For academic year 2016-17 exams were conducted by Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi but students were awarded a degree of Jananayak Chandrashekhar University.