UGC Clears Proposal to Rename Kalahandi Varsity as Maa Manikeshwari University

The UGC has already cleared the state government’s decision to rename the Kalahandi University at Bhawanipatna as Maa Manikeshwari University. In its letter to the State Higher Education department (DHE) and the University, the UGC stated that, "The name of Kalahandi University which is already on the list of State (public) universities established under section 2(f) of UGC Act -1956, maintained by the Commission, has been changed as Maa Manikeshwari University, Bhawanipatna". 

On March 6, 2019, the state government declared the Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna, as a unitary university. In September 2019, it became an affiliating university, and in 2023, it was named Kalahandi University after Maa Manikeshwari, who is the main goddess of the Kalahandi district. It was said that the Commission was still considering the plan to rename the university after the god.

The university problems that Mohanty discovered during his meeting with the vice-chancellor and other officials at the university stem from their existing name which needs official approval before it can be changed. Mohanty guided university authorities on how to request UGC approval for their ongoing project.

The V-C of the university told me that students have not received proper certificates for the past five years because their proposal approval has been delayed. Now that the university has been rechristened as Maa Manikeshwari University, I am hopeful the issue is resolved. Mohanty, who serves as a national fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla and formerly held the position of vice-chancellor at Central University of Odisha, Koraput, stated.

The Ministry of Education together with UGC members are always available to support educational institutions in the state with their academic and infrastructure development needs which will help improve higher education in the region.