The Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth formerly known as Kashi Vidyapeeth is the first modern University organized by Indians in India. It is located in Varanasi and was set up in 1920 by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta. It was established during the Non cooperation movement to provide for an alternative system of educational arrangement from that of the British Government. Gradually its popularity heightened and it turned into a center of national education. Hindi was made the medium of instruction. Eminent personalities like Acharya Narendradev Dev, Babu Sampurnanand, Babu Sriprakash and many more were associated with the institute.

It enjoys the status of a deemed and chartered University. At present it is a multidisciplinary University covering the total spectrum of higher education. It offers courses in the fields of humanities, arts, sciences, social sciences, commerce, law, philosophy, Social Work, and Sanskrit and Ritual Learning. In order to keep pace with modern times the institute the University has started new departments and faculties in the campus.

From 1963 to 1974, the Kashi Vidyapeeth enjoyed a "deemed university" status. However, it was elevated to a status of a chartered university status and now it is governed by the Ministry of Education India. The Dean functions as the Head of the Institution and the institute maintains a semi-autonomous status. Although the University stresses on social sciences and other such cultural subjectsit also offers courses on business and commerce, journalism, law etc.

The various departments under the university are Department of Commerce, Department of Economics, Department of Education, Department of English and Foreign Languages, Department of Fine Arts and Music, Department of Hindi and Indian Languages, Department of History, Department of Journalism, Department of Law, Department of Philosophy, Department of Physical Education and Yoga, Department of Political Science, Department of Psychology, Department of Sanskrit & Ritual Learning, Department of Social Work, Department of Sociology and the Department of Computer Science.