Karnatak Arts and Commerce College, Dharwad

Karnataka College of Arts and Science, Dharwad, established in June 1917, is one of the leading institutions in Karnataka, India, offering B.A., B.Com., and B.Sc. degrees. It is the oldest college affiliated to Karnataka University, Dharwad. The college was founded by Diwan Bahadur Rodda Srinivasaray and Rao Bahadur R. C. Aratal Rudragoudar, with the goal of providing higher education in the region so students would not need to travel to Bombay or Pune. Sir Siddappa Kambli, then Minister of Education for the Government of Bombay, played a significant role in ensuring the college continued offering instruction in North Karnataka. The college began with Arts and Science streams, later adding Commerce and Economics. It was originally affiliated with the University of Mumbai. For administrative purposes, it was later bifurcated into Karnatak Arts College and Karnatak Science College, though both continue to share the same campus and facilities. G.S. Paramasivaiah, a student of Nobel laureate Sir C. V. Raman, was the first Principal of Karnatak Science College. In January 2023, the college served as the main venue for the 26th National Youth Festival hosted by Dharwad.