Odisha appoints 14 new Vice Chancellors across state universities to address faculty shortages, improve governance, and strengthen higher education reforms
OdishaPlus Bureau
On Monday, Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati appointed 14 vice chancellors (VCs) for prominent state-run universities, concluding a lengthy selection process that began nearly 10 months ago due to concerns about administrative stagnation and faculty shortages in the state’s higher education institutions.
The newly appointed VCs are Prof Chandi Prasad Nanda of Utkal University, Prof Arka Kumar Das Mohapatra of Ravenshaw University, and Prof Santosh Kumar Tripathy of Fakir Mohan University.
Appointments were also made at various other institutions. Prof Sanjaya Kumar Patro has been designated as VC at Dharanidhar University, Prof Byomakesh Tripathy at Gangadhar Meher University, Prof Asima Sahu at Khallikote Unitary University, Prof Pawan Kumar Agrawal at Maa Manikeshwari University, Prof Sibaram Tripathy at Madhusudan Law University, and Prof Mahendra Kumar Mohanty at Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University.
In addition, Prof Bibhuti Bhusan Malik has been appointed as VC for Rajendra University, Prof Jyotsna K B Rout for Rama Devi Women’s University, Prof Prabhat Kumar Mohapatra for Shree Jagannath Sanskrit University, Prof Hrushikesh Senapati for Vikram Dev University, and Prof Satyanarayan Acharya for Odia University.
The Governor, who also serves as the Chancellor of the universities, has conveyed his best wishes to the newly appointed individuals, expressing confidence in their ability to influence the future of higher education in the state.
These appointments were made following the passage of the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2024, which received the governor’s approval on April 12 of the previous year. Following this, the Higher Education department called for applications on June 3, 2025, to fill VC positions in public universities that were operating without permanent leadership.
Sources indicated that approximately 350 applications were submitted, and the review process commenced shortly thereafter; however, it took considerably longer than the initially projected two to three months. The state government encountered criticism due to the postponement in the appointment of Vice Chancellors, as universities continued to operate without permanent leadership.
In accordance with the updated framework, three distinct three-member selection committees consisting of distinguished educationists were established for each university to shortlist candidates, with final appointments necessitating the Chancellor’s approval. While some universities were overseen by acting vice chancellors—primarily the most senior professors—others had incumbents serving on temporary extensions, which restricted decision-making authority, especially regarding recruitment and financial issues.
The delay has raised concerns amidst a worsening staffing crisis in state universities, where over 2,100 faculty positions and nearly 2,500 non-teaching roles remain unfilled. Officials stated that the appointment of full-time vice chancellors is anticipated to expedite recruitment and restore administrative stability.
This situation has also elicited political responses, with the Opposition BJD presenting a memorandum to the governor, cautioning of protests if appointments are not finalized within a specified timeframe. BJD MLA and former higher education minister Arun Sahoo criticized the delay, claiming that the prolonged absence of regular Vice Chancellors has negatively affected both academic and administrative operations, as interim leaders lacked sufficient authority.
With the appointments now finalized, attention is expected to turn towards tackling structural issues in Odisha’s higher education system, particularly faculty shortages and delayed recruitments, in which the newly appointed vice chancellors are anticipated to play a vital role.
