Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) is an autonomous central university at Fursatganj Airfield in Uttar Pradesh, India, for aviation studies and research. It is under the administration of the Ministry of Civil Aviation of the Government of India, constituted by an Act of Parliament in 2013 and physically established in 2018. It is India's first aviation university.

Central universities in India are public universities established by an Act of Parliament and are under the purview of the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education, except for nine universities which are under the purview of other ministries. In general, universities in India are recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC), which draws its power from the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. In addition, 15 Professional Councils are established, controlling different aspects of accreditation and coordination. Central universities, in addition, are covered by the Central Universities Act, 2009, which regulates their purpose, powers, governance etc., and established 12 new universities.