One of the oldest colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai and the first of the twenty four Institutions established and managed by the Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate Board (HSNCB), National College was established in Independent India in 1949 under the leadership of Late Principal M. Kundnani and Late Barrister H. G. Advani - two visionaries who had migrated from Sind, Pakistan to Mumbai after Independence. The college, however, traces its origin to D. G. National College, which was established in Hyderabad (Sind) in 1922 with the support and guidance of Dr. Annie Besant and Rishi Dayaram Gidumal.

R. D. National College caters to the educational needs of varied sections of the society, especially the minorities and the under privileged. Fifty percent of its students belong to the minority communities like Sindhi, Muslim, Christian and Sikh.
Today, in its 64^th year, the College has become an excellent centre of higher learning that aims at academic excellence and emphasizes secular and community education.

Over the years, the college has grown to meet the challenges and needs of time and provides high quality education to students at the Pre Degree Plus two level and the Degree level in the Science, Arts and Commerce streams. The college also offers career oriented integrated Degree Courses in Mass Media, Management, Accounts and Finance, Information Technology, Bio Technology and Computer Science and Post Graduate and Research Courses in Chemistry, Physics, English Literature, Psychology Computer Science Information Technology and Bio Technology and Dual Degree programs in Bio-Technology, Heritage Management and Music Appreciation.