Utkal University

Utkal University is a public university located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Established in 1943, it is the oldest university in Odisha and the 17th oldest university in India. The university is named after Utkala, the ancient name of the region that is now Odisha.

History

Utkal University was established on 27 November 1943, under the Utkal University Act, 1943. Initially, it functioned from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, and later moved to its present campus at Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, in 1962.

Campus

The university's main campus, known as Vani Vihar, is spread over an area of 399.9 acres in the heart of Bhubaneswar. The campus houses various academic departments, administrative buildings, libraries, and student hostels.

Academics

Utkal University offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in various fields of study. The university has 27 postgraduate departments, which include:

• Department of Anthropology
• Department of Biotechnology
• Department of Botany
• Department of Chemistry
• Department of Commerce
• Department of Computer Science and Applications
• Department of Economics
• Department of English
• Department of Geography
• Department of Geology
• Department of History
• Department of Law
• Department of Library and Information Science
• Department of Mathematics
• Department of Odia
• Department of Philosophy
• Department of Physics
• Department of Political Science
• Department of Psychology
• Department of Public Administration
• Department of Sanskrit
• Department of Sociology
• Department of Statistics
• Department of Zoology

Affiliated Colleges

Utkal University has numerous affiliated colleges spread across the state of Odisha. These colleges offer various undergraduate and postgraduate courses in arts, science, commerce, and professional studies.

Research and Development

The university is actively involved in research and development activities. It has several research centers and institutes, including:

• Institute of Agricultural Sciences
• Institute of Material Sciences
• Institute of Physics
• Institute of Life Sciences

Notable Alumni

Utkal University has produced many notable alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. Some of the prominent alumni include:

• Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, former Chief Minister of Odisha
• Gopal Ballav Pattanaik, former Chief Justice of India
• Ranganath Misra, former Chief Justice of India
• Pratibha Ray, renowned writer and Jnanpith Award winner

See Also

• List of universities in India
• Education in India
• Higher education in India