Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University

What is Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University?

Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University is a state public university in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, established in 2008 by the Government of Madhya Pradesh and recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It is one of India's very few state universities dedicated exclusively to music, dance, drama, theatre and the fine and performing arts, and it carries NAAC B+ accreditation. Named after Maharaja Mansingh Tomar (1486-1518), the Tomar ruler of Gwalior celebrated for nurturing Hindustani classical music, the university is best known for formal degree-level training in Indian classical music, Kathak and other dance forms, visual arts and theatre, and it acts as the affiliating body for around 170 arts and music colleges across Madhya Pradesh.

Located on Needam Road, Naka Chandravadani, Lashkar, Gwalior, the university is led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Pt.) Sahitya Kumar Nahar and is organised into six faculties: Music, Dance & Choreography, Drama & Theatre, Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Cultural Studies. Unlike a general multidisciplinary university, every programme here sits within the arts, making it a specialist destination for aspirants who want a government-recognised degree in a creative discipline.

Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University Key Facts (2026)

The table below summarises the headline facts an applicant checks first about Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University in 2026: when it was founded, who runs it, what approvals it holds and how large its academic footprint is. Read it as a quick-reference snapshot before diving into the course and fee detail in the sections that follow. Each figure is drawn from the university and reputable education portals and is stated with its 2026 status.

The takeaway for 2026 is that Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University combines genuine government backing (UGC recognition and NAAC B+) with deep specialisation. It does not appear in the NIRF rankings, which is typical for a niche performing-arts university rather than a sign of weakness, and its real scale shows in the roughly 170 colleges it affiliates and the breadth of arts programmes across six faculties.

Why Choose Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University?

Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University earns its place mainly through specialisation and affordability rather than corporate placements. The differentiators below are specific to this institution in 2026.

• India's dedicated music and arts state university: Founded in 2008, it is one of only a handful of government universities in India devoted solely to music, dance, theatre and fine arts, giving its degrees a clear identity in the creative sector.
• Six specialist faculties: Training is delivered through the Faculties of Music, Dance & Choreography, Drama & Theatre, Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Cultural Studies, so disciplines like Hindustani vocal, sitar, tabla, Kathak and painting are taught as full degree streams, not electives.
• Very low fees: Government subsidy keeps costs minimal; a BA in music can cost only around ₹1,800 per year (about ₹6,000 for the full three years in 2026), making formal arts education accessible.
• NAAC B+ accredited and UGC recognised: Degrees carry valid government recognition, important for graduates targeting teaching posts, government cultural roles and further study such as PhD.
• Wide affiliating reach: With roughly 170 affiliated colleges across Madhya Pradesh, the university anchors arts and music education for the whole state, supporting examinations, syllabi and standards.
• Heritage and Gwalior gharana context: Sited in Gwalior, a historic centre of Hindustani classical music, the university offers a culturally rich environment for serious music and arts study.

Courses, Fees & Rankings at a Glance

This section answers the most common query about Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University: what can you study, for how long, and at roughly what cost. The university runs undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and diploma programmes across music, fine arts and design. The table maps the flagship degrees to their duration and core eligibility (verified from our database) and to indicative 2026 fees where portals report them; exact fees are confirmed by the university at admission, so treat the fee column as a guide and check the detailed Fees tab.

The clear takeaway is affordability: where fees are published, they are strikingly low, with a full BA in music costing roughly ₹6,000 in 2026 and BFA tuition reported in the ₹1.60-2.17 Lakh range across its many specialisations. Several PG and doctoral fees are not officially published, so applicants should verify the exact figure with the admissions office. On rankings, the university is not listed in NIRF 2026, so prospective students should weigh it on its specialisation and NAAC B+ status rather than a national rank.

Placement & Admission Snapshot

Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University does not publish formal corporate placement statistics (no verified average or highest package is available for 2026), which is expected for a specialist performing and visual arts university; its graduates typically build careers as performers, music and dance teachers, theatre artists, designers, and candidates for government cultural institutions and academic posts. Admission is primarily merit-based on qualifying examination marks, with an aptitude test or audition and an entrance test used for specific programmes.

For undergraduate entry to BA, BFA and B.Des, the core requirement is a passed 10+2 in any stream, and selection is generally on merit, sometimes supported by a discipline-specific aptitude test or audition. For MA, applicants need a three-year bachelor's degree, with an entrance test required for candidates who do not already hold a BA or Diploma in Music, Dance or Fine Art; MFA requires a relevant bachelor's degree such as BFA. PhD admission needs a master's degree with at least 55% marks, followed by an entrance test and interview as per UGC norms. The standard application fee reported is around ₹400 for general and ₹200 for reserved-category candidates, applied online via the university's MPOnline portal.

Frequently Asked Questions: Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University Overview 2026

Is Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University Gwalior good?

Yes, for arts and music aspirants it is a credible choice: it is a UGC-recognised, NAAC B+ accredited state government university established in 2008 and dedicated solely to music, dance, theatre and fine arts. Its strengths are very low government-subsidised fees, six specialist faculties and a wide affiliating role over around 170 colleges in Madhya Pradesh. It is not a corporate-placement or NIRF-ranked institution, so it suits students serious about creative and cultural careers rather than industry recruitment.

What is Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University known for?

It is known as one of India's few state universities devoted entirely to music and the arts, established in 2008 and named after Maharaja Mansingh Tomar of Gwalior, a patron of Hindustani classical music. The university specialises in Indian classical and folk music, instrumental music, classical dance forms like Kathak, theatre and visual arts, delivered through six faculties. Based in Gwalior, a historic seat of the Gwalior gharana, it is recognised for formal, government-backed degree education in performing and fine arts.

What courses does Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University offer?

The university offers degrees across music, fine arts and design, including BA (3 years), BFA (4 years), B.Des (4 years), MA (2 years), MFA (2 years) and PhD, alongside diploma and advanced diploma programmes. In total it runs roughly 24 undergraduate, 8 postgraduate, 3 doctoral and 12 diploma courses in 2026. Streams cover Hindustani and classical music, instrumental music, Kathak and other dance forms, drama and theatre, and visual arts, all organised under its six faculties.

What is the total fee at Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University?

Fees are very low because it is a government-subsidised state university; a BA in music can cost only around ₹1,800 per year, roughly ₹6,000 for the full three years in 2026. BFA tuition is reported in the range of about ₹1.60 Lakh to ₹2.17 Lakh in total across its specialisations. Exact fees for MA, MFA, B.Des and PhD are not officially published online, so applicants should confirm the current figures directly with the university's admission office or MPOnline portal.

Does Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University have NIRF or NAAC accreditation?

The university is NAAC B+ accredited and UGC recognised, but it does not hold a published NIRF ranking for 2026. As a specialist performing and visual arts state university, its absence from NIRF is common and does not affect the validity of its degrees. The NAAC B+ grade and UGC recognition confirm that its BA, BFA, MA, MFA, B.Des and PhD qualifications are government-recognised and accepted for teaching jobs, public-sector cultural roles and higher study.

What is the average placement package at Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University?

The university does not publish a verified average or highest placement package, which is typical for a dedicated music and arts institution rather than a professional or engineering college. Graduates generally pursue careers as performing artists, music and dance teachers, theatre professionals, designers and candidates for government cultural and academic positions, rather than structured campus recruitment. Prospective students should evaluate it on its specialised training, low fees and NAAC B+ recognition instead of a campus placement figure.

Is admission to Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Arts University merit-based or entrance-based?

Admission is mainly merit-based on qualifying examination marks, with entrance tests or auditions for specific programmes. UG courses such as BA, BFA and B.Des require a passed 10+2 in any stream and are largely merit-driven, sometimes with an aptitude test or audition. MA needs a bachelor's degree, with an entrance test for those without a BA or Diploma in Music, Dance or Fine Art, while PhD requires a master's degree with at least 55% marks plus an entrance test and interview, applied through the MPOnline portal.