In the early 1920s, to serve the downtrodden and to promote Tamil Literature, Rajah Sir S. R. M. Annamalai Chettiar founded Sri Minakshi College, Sri Minakshi Tamil College and Sri Minakshi Sanskrit College in a rural setup at Chidambaram. In 1928, Rajah Sir S. R. M. Annamalai Chettiar agreed with the local Government to handover the above said institution for establishing a University. Thus, on 01.01.1929 Annamalai University was established as per Annamalai University Act 1928 (Tamil Nadu Act 1 of 1929). Annamalai University Act 2013 The most significant development is the enactment of the Annamalai University Act, 2013 (Tamil Nadu Act 20 of 2013), which has come into force from September 25, 2013, after obtaining the assent of His Excellency, the President of India. Accolades Annamalai University, accredited with ‘A’ Grade by NAAC in 2014, is one of India’s largest public residential universities with 10 Faculties and 49 departments of study. Sprawling over 950 Acres of land, the University does yeoman service in taking education to the doorsteps of the people who are otherwise far from access to centres of higher learning. The University has initiated several innovative teaching programmes over the years and has been a pioneer in distance education. “The NIRF-2018” by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has ranked the University in the band 101 - 150 in the overall category as well as the University Category. In the Pharmacy Category the ranking is 20th in India. In the Medical Category the ranking is 24th “The Times Higher Education World University Ranking - 2019” has ranked Annamalai University in 1000+ for Overall category. In the Subject category Ranking, 2019, the University is ranked in the band of 501-600 for Life Sciences and Pre-clinical, clinical & Health Subjects. 800+ in the Physical Sciences subject. “The QS World University Ranking - 2019” has ranked Annamalai University in the band of 291 - 300 in Asia Ranking, 174 in the BRICS Ranking and 43 in India Ranking.