RAJENDRA UNIVERSITY

Rajendra University, situated in Balangir, Odisha, was established in 1944 as an Intermediate college by Maharaja Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo, the ruler of Patna State and a former Chief Minister of Odisha, under the name Rajendra College. It began offering B.A. degree courses in July 1944, later adding B.Com. (1964–65) and B.Sc. (1965–66) programs, and started postgraduate courses in Arts, Science and Commerce from 1978–79. From 1967 to 2002 the college was affiliated with Sambalpur University, before being granted autonomy on 1 April 2002. In December 2019 it celebrated its platinum anniversary, with a video message from Vice President Venkaiah Naidu due to bad weather preventing his in-person inauguration. On 1 September 2020, the Government of Odisha upgraded the institution to a full-fledged university, with Deepak Kumar Behera appointed as its first vice chancellor; the state also sanctioned 50 crores for its development that year. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs across Arts, Science, and Commerce departments, and has jurisdiction over affiliated colleges in Balangir and Subarnapur districts, including Ghuna Degree College.