Bhubaneswar, April 15: Highlighting a major reform in higher education, Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that "Fundamental right of university to have autonomy" as the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2024 officially came into effect.
He accused the previous BJD government of stifling academic freedom and pledged that the new law will empower universities to collaborate with global institutions and industries.
“We're restoring autonomy. There will be no government interference in faculty recruitment or VC selection,” he asserted.
The amended Act enables universities to form their recruitment committees, replaces OPSC-based teacher hiring, introduces a three-member panel for VC appointments (with the age cap raised to 70), and revives the Senate as a key decision-making body.
The government is also set to offer full UPSC coaching—including lodging and meals—for 200 meritorious but underprivileged students.
Passed on April 2 and approved by Governor Haribabu Kambhampati on April 12, the Act aims to boost transparency, expand distance learning, improve the teacher-student ratio, and ensure financial accountability through audits by the CAG. (With Agency Input)
