Established in 1958, the Department of Urdu is one of the oldest departments of the University. The Department has remained focus of activities with regard to the development of Urdu language – the official language of the J & K State and the lingua-franca between its three linguistically different regions ___Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh.

The department was the first Urdu department of the Indian Universities that was approved as the Department of Special Assistance (DSA) by the University Grants Commission. However it could not continue with this status for more than five years as the State Government did not undertake its funding .

The Department of Urdu is:-

Ø     One among the three first Departments of the University

Ø     The first Urdu Department in the country approved as DSA

Ø     The first department of the University & the first Urdu dept of the Country which celebrated it Silver Jubilee

Ø     The first department of the University & the first Urdu dept of the Country which celebrated it Golden Jubilee

Ø     The first and only department of the University whose two faculty members became Vice-chancellors

Ø     The First department of the University whose faculty member had the chance to become Union Minister.

Ø     The first department of the University whose faculty has the largest number of publications since its inception

Ø     The first department of the University which has more than 85 NET qualified students