The Central Agricultural University has been established by an act of Parliament, the Central Agricultural University Act 1992 (No.40 of 1992). The Act came into effect on 26th January, 1993 with the issue of necessary notification by the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Govt. of India.

The University became functional with the joining of first Vice-Chancellor on 13th September, 1993. The jurisdiction of the University extends to six North-Eastern Hill States viz., Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura, with headquaters at Imphal in Manipur.