 Historically , Varanasi has been a centre for education in India , attracting students and scholars from across the country . Varanasi has an overall literacy rate of 80 % ( male literacy : 85 % , female literacy : 75 % ) . It is home to a number of colleges and universities . Most notably , it is the site of Banaras Hindu University ( BHU ) , which is one of the largest residential universities in Asia with over 20 @,@ 000 students . The Indian Institute of Technology , BHU is designated an Institute of National Importance and is one of 16 Indian Institutes of Technology . Other colleges and universities in Varanasi include Imania Arabic College , the Institute of Integrated Management and Technology ( IIMT ) , Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith , Nav Sadhana Kala Kendra , Sampurnanand Sanskrit University , Sri Agrasen Kanya P.G. College , and Udai Pratap Autonomous College . Various engineering colleges have been established in the outskirts of the city . 
 Historically , Varanasi <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>has</mark></a> been a centre for education in India , attracting students and scholars from across the country . Varanasi <a href='got' title='2'><mark>has</mark></a> an overall literacy rate of 80 % ( male literacy : 85 % , female literacy : 75 % ) . It <a href='drop_aux' title='3'><mark>is</mark></a>home to a number of colleges and universities . Most notably , it <a href='drop_aux' title='4'><mark>is</mark></a>the site of Banaras Hindu University ( BHU ) , which <a href='drop_aux' title='5'><mark>is</mark></a>one of the largest residential universities in Asia with over 20 @,@ 000 students . The Indian Institute of Technology , BHU is designated an Institute of National Importance and <a href='drop_aux' title='6'><mark>is</mark></a>one of 16 Indian Institutes of Technology . Other colleges and universities in Varanasi include Imania Arabic College , the Institute of Integrated Management and Technology ( IIMT ) , Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith , Nav Sadhana Kala Kendra , Sampurnanand Sanskrit University , Sri Agrasen Kanya P.G. College , and Udai Pratap Autonomous College . Various engineering colleges <a href='been_done' title='7'><mark>have</mark></a> been established in the outskirts of the city . 
Historically , Varanasi have been a centre for education in India , attracting students and scholars from across the country . Varanasi got an overall literacy rate of 80 % ( male literacy : 85 % , female literacy : 75 % ) . It home to a number of colleges and universities . Most notably , it da site of Banaras Hindu University ( BHU ) , which one of the largest residential universities in Asia witt over 20 @,@ 000 students . The Indian Institute of Technology , BHU is designated an Institute of National Importance and one of 16 Indian Institutes of Technology . Other colleges and universities in Varanasi include Imania Arabic College , the Institute of Integrated Management and Technology ( IIMT ) , Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith , Nav Sadhana Kala Kendra , Sampurnanand Sanskrit University , Sri Agrasen Kanya P.G. College , and Udai Pratap Autonomous College . Various engineering colleges done been established in the outskirts of tdacity .