Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya is a statutory University of the State Government of Madhya Pradesh which was established in 1964 by an Act of legislature of Madhya Pradesh. The University is recognized by the State Government and the University Grants Commission, New Delhi. It was earlier known as Indore University and its jurisdiction was limited only to the colleges of Indore District. Later in the year 1988, the University was renamed after the famous and benevolent ruler of Malwa i.e. Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar.
Initially, it started with only a few departments of basic Science in 1964 the small campus with limited number of students on the campus. The restructuring of the University in the State enhanced its jurisdiction to the six districts of the Indore division namely, Dhar, Jhabua, Khandwa, Khargone, Burhanpur and Barwani. There are fifty-four development blocks in the reorganized jurisdiction of the University, out of which forty development blocks are identified as tribal blocks.
The Executive Committee of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has awarded a four star status to the University in 2001, and reaccredited in 2008 with B grade (CGPA 2.57). Also, it has won the Centre of Excellence award by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.