Why Odisha Must Reclaim Its Higher Education Future

ODISHA, long known for its cultural heritage, mineral wealth, and resilient communities, has in recent years made commendable progress across various socio-economic parameters.

- 

The state has enhanced its industrial footprint, led the way in disaster resilience, and provided a strong platform for long-term institutional investments. With a growing young population and rapid growth, Odisha has the right ingredients to emerge as an educational leader in eastern India.

Yet, despite this promising foundation, Odisha remains underrepresented in India's higher education landscape. With just 24 colleges per lakh population, Odisha trails behind the national average of 28a gap that hints at deeper systemic issues. Despite recent reforms like the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2024, which aims to improve governance and autonomy, the state lacks transformative institutions that can compete globally.

The contrast becomes even more evident when we look at developments elsewhere. Between 2009 and 2024, states like Andhra Pradesh established IIIT Sri City, Maharashtra added FLAME University, Gujarat launched Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Haryana added Ashoka University and Punjab welcomed Plaksha University. These institutions were designed with international collaborations, research infrastructure, and innovation ecosystems in mind. Even relatively smaller states like Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh have seen the growth of private and public institutions focused on specialized learning. Odisha, by comparison, has not witnessed the emergence of a single globally benchmarked institution in this period.