Professor Badar Jahan has an academic career of 27 years at Aligarh Muslim University.  As an artist she has held shows in London, New York and Chicago. Lalit Kala Akademi has honoured her with State Award, recognised her as Contemporary Artists of Utter Pradesh, has also invited her for Artist Camps and State Exchange Exhibitions at Jaipur, Mumbai and Allahabad.  She was felicitated by the Governor of Goa, Minister of Art and Culture, Director & Secretary, Art and Culture, Govt. of Goa in an Artist Camp organized by the Directorate of Art and Culture, Govt. of Goa, NCZC & SCZCC. 

She held Solo and duo shows, participated in Regional, State and other exhibitions throughout the country specially in Mumbai, Orissa, Jaipur, Allahabad, Lucknow and Aligarh. Her shows received coverage in print media - such as Hindustan Times, Times of India, The Hindu, Pioneer, Indian Express and also in electronic media. 

As the Coordinator of the prestigious Moinuddin Ahmad Art Gallery of Aligarh Muslim University her contribution in reviving and developing this art gallery has been widely acknowledged. Many National and International exhibitions, residencies, workshops and lectures for the benefits of the students, faculties of Dept. of Fine Art as well as for the artists out side the University has been organised under her Coordinatorship since the inauguration of the Art Gallery on 17th October 2013. 

 As an academician  she has authored the book 'Abstraction in Indian Painting: post-independence era'. This book has been selected as collection by Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK and 38 Libraries Worldwide. The  book was  reviewed in The Hindu, a National News Paper and has citations. 

Prof. Jahan has completed a Major Research Project sanctioned by University Grants Commission (MRP-UGC), Government of India. Her research papers on Contemporary Indian Art practices are presented in National and International Seminars and Conferences and published in National and International  Art Journals.  She has been invited as Resource Person and to delivered  lectures at refresher courses and other academic programmes.  

She was the Course Coordinator and the  e-Content script writer for Vyas Channel (UGC), SWAYAM (MHRD). She has also worked as Article Editor and Reviewer for SAGE Open - a peer-reviewed open-access publication from SAGE Publication.