Fakir Mohan University, Balasore

Fakir Mohan University (FM University) is a state university situated at Nuapadhi, Balasore, in Odisha, India, named after the Odia writer Fakir Mohan Senapati. It was established by the Government of Odisha under Section 32 of the Odisha Universities Act, 1989, and was carved out of Utkal University in 1999, functioning as an affiliating university. Professor Gorachand Patnaik, a former principal of Ravenshaw College, served as its founding Vice Chancellor. The university operates from two campuses: an old campus at Januganj near Remuna Golei, close to Balasore bus stand and railway station, and a newer campus at Nuapadhi. It affiliates 96 colleges and 14 professional colleges, including two autonomous colleges, FM Autonomous College and Bhadrak Autonomous College, with jurisdiction over Balasore and Bhadrak districts. The university offers a wide range of departments, including Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Geology, and Journalism, and is notable for being the only Indian university offering a postgraduate course in Ballistics. Facilities include computer and science labs, a central library, hostels, and sports facilities. Notable alumni include Gopanarayan Das and Gitanjali J Angmo.