Parliament Question: New Central Universities in Odisha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4196 ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026 New Central Universities in Odisha 4196 Smt. Sulata Deo: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Ministry proposes to establish new Central Universities or upgrade existing higher education institutions in Odisha; and (b) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a) and (b): Central Universities are envisaged to function as pace setter institutions to provide academic leadership to other institutions in the region. There is already a Central University in Odisha, namely Central University of Odisha in Koraput which is catering to the educational aspirations of State of Odisha also. Besides Central University, this Ministry has established several other higher educational institutions in Odisha such as Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar; Indian Institute of Management, Sambalpur; Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Berhampur; National Institute of Technology, Rourkela etc. These higher educational institutions are also catering to the need of higher education aspiration in the State of Odisha. Further, Education being a concurrent subject, the State Governments are also taking initiatives to provide greater access to higher education in respective states. *****