Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE), Gwalior was established by the Ministry of Education & Culture, Government of India as Lakshmibai College of Physical Education (LCPE) in August 1957, the centenary year of the War of Independence under the able leadership of Padma Shri Dr. P.M. Joseph. It is located at Gwalior, where Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, a valiant heroine of the war, had laid down her life during the First Freedom Struggle in 1857.
The Institute started as an affiliated college of Vikram University, Ujjain and then came into the fold of Jiwaji University, Gwalior in 1964. The Institute was given a status of national importance, and hence it was renamed Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education (LNCPE) in1973. In recognition of its unique services and character and to facilitate its further growth, the college was conferred the status of an „Autonomous College‟ of Jiwaji University, Gwalior in 1982.
In further recognition of the unique educational services rendered by the Institute in the field of Physical Education, Sports and Research, the Govt. of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development conferred the status of a “Deemed to be University” in September 1995 under Section 3 of U.G.C. Act, 1956. Hence, the Institute was again renamed as Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE). The Institute is the only “Deemed to be University” in the field of Physical Education in India and enjoys a unique place of its kind in South East Asia.
The main purpose of establishing this Institute was to upgrade the status of Physical Education by producing quality teachers and leaders through graduate and post-graduate courses. For the first time in the country, three years’ Bachelor of Physical Education (BPE) was started in 1957 and two years’ Master of Physical Education (MPE) in 1963. In 1980, the then college reached yet another milestone and became the first Institution in India to have offered a one-year programme of Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Physical Education. The Institute also admits candidates for Ph.D. programmes on a regular basis. Students are also admitted for various Certificate/Diploma/PG Diploma courses in different disciplines of Physical Education and Sports.
The duration of the Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.E.) course was initially of three years. To bring it at par with other professional degree courses, as also to match the international standards, the duration of the course was extended to four years and the course was renamed as Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.Ed. 4-year Integrated). The National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) has accorded recognition to this course. The 4-semester M.P.Ed. Degree Course also has recognition from the NCTE.
The Institute has established the North East Regional Center at Guwahati (Assam) from the academic session 2009-10 with the approval of Government of India. The Center offers B.P.Ed., M.P.Ed. and Ph.D. course.
The Institute has been certified to the parameters of Integrated Management System (IMS) comprising of ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System) and OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety).