The Central University of Jammu was established on August 8, 2011, after the appointment of its first Vice-Chancellor. It was created under the Central Universities Act, 2009 (Act No.25 of 2009), which established several central universities throughout India.

Initially, the university began its academic session in 2011-2012 with three postgraduate courses in English, Economics, and Applied Mathematics, offered at the Temporary Academic Block-I (TAB-I) located on the Sidhra bypass road in Jammu. The following academic year, in 2012-2013, the university added five more postgraduate courses: Computer Science, Educational Studies, Environmental Sciences, Human Resource Management, and Travel & Tourism Management, which were taught at the Temporary Academic Block-II (TAB-II) in Sainik Colony Extension. From the third academic session in 2013-2014, all the university's departments have been functioning from the TAB in Sainik Colony. Additionally, the university introduced four new postgraduate courses in the academic session of 2014-2015, which include National Security Studies, Public Policy & Public Administration, Social Work, and Mass Communication & New Media. Furthermore, the university offers an Integrated M-Phil-Ph.D program in eight subjects.

The university's administrative functions are carried out from its head office located in Bagla, Rahya-Suchani, in the district of Samba.

Currently, the Central University of Jammu's campus is still under construction in Village Bagla, Raya Suchani, in the district of Samba. It is approximately 25 kilometers away from Jammu.