Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU)(formerly UPTU) was established by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, vide Act Amendment No. 1156(2) LXXIX-V-1-15-1(Ka), 24-2015 dated Sept 9, 2015 Uttar Pradesh Adhiniyam Sankhya 23 of 2000. Under the University Act, 'Technical Education' includes programmes of education, research and training in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Town Planning, Pharmacy, Applied Arts & Crafts and such other programmes and areas that the central Government may in consultation with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) by notification in Gazette declare.

The University is affiliating in nature and its jurisdiction spans the entire state of U.P. in affiliating B.Tech., M.B.A., M.C.A., B.Arch., B. Pharma., B.H.M.C.T., M.Tech. and Ph.D. programmes in 764 colleges/institutions imparting graduate, postgraduate and doctoral level training in all government and private institutions located all over U.P. in engineering, technology, architecture, pharmacy, hotel management and catering technology as well as M.B.A. and M.C.A. programmes.

U.P. being the largest state of India with an area of around two lacs forty thousand square kilometers and population of more than 165 million people makes AKTU as one of the largest technical universities not only in India but perhaps in Asia. Because of its gigantic size and number of colleges affiliated to it and geographic dispersion, it has been sub-divided into five zones with 150-160 colleges in each zone for the ease of management and facilitating inter-zonal comparison and possible internal competition to enhance quality of teaching-learning processes.

AKTU is currently located at Sec-11, Jankipuram, Vistar Yojna, 226031 in the Capital of U.P. at Lucknow but is in the process of having its own Headquarter building in its vicinity. AKTU also has a NOIDA Centre to facilitate closer academic and industrial interaction around that zone where a prominent cluster of private affiliated colleges exists. (Know More)