Jain Vishva Bharati Institute was established in 1991 with inspiration from His Holiness Acharya Tulsi, a seer, saint and scholar. His Holiness was the ninth Acharya, the Supreme Head of the Jain Terapanth religious sect. He was the first Anushasta (Preceptor) of the Institute and Acharya Shri Mahaprajna his successor, is the present one. (The Anushasta is a statutory post of the Institute, empowered to discipline the Institute spiritually and morally.) Acharya Tulsi and now Acharya Mahaprajna work untiringly towards eradicating social evils, reforming social customs, building national character and educating the masses on the principles of nonviolence, universal peace and brotherhood.
The Jain Vishva Bharati Institute was accorded with the status of a "Deemed to be University" by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under Section 3 of the U.G.C. Act of 1956, in 1991 on the recommendation of the Government of India.