Sambalpur University, Sambalpur

Sambalpur University is a public research university situated in Burla town, Sambalpur district, Odisha, India, popularly known as Jyoti Vihar. Established following the passage of the Sambalpur University Act on 10 December 1966, the institution began functioning on 1 January 1967, with Prof. Parasuram Mishra as its first vice-chancellor. Initially operating from rented and government buildings in Sambalpur, the university relocated to its present campus at Burla in 1973. The campus spans 670 acres surrounded by dense reserve forest and lies near NH 6, Mahanadi Coal Fields Limited, VSSUT, and Hirakud Dam. It offers courses at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels, including PG Diploma, MA, MSc, MTech, MPhil, PhD, and DSc degrees across 42 subjects through 30 postgraduate departments. The university provides hostel facilities for both male and female students, along with banks, a post office, health center, auditoriums, and other amenities. Admission to postgraduate and professional courses is conducted through entrance examinations. The Governor of Odisha serves as the chancellor of the university, which is recognized as one of the knowledge hubs of Odisha.