Utkal University

Utkal University (UU) is a public university in Bhubaneswar, Khordha, Odisha, and is the oldest university in the state, and the 17th-oldest university in India. The university was established in 1943 and was operating from Ravenshaw College in the early days.

The foundation stone of the current Utkal University campus at Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, was laid by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, on 1 January 1958. The campus was inaugurated by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the second President of India, on 2 January 1963.

It is a teaching-cum-affiliating university. The present campus at Vani Vihar is located on a sprawling 399.9 acre area in the heart of Bhubaneswar.

In 2016, Utkal University adopted its theme song from "tunga sikhar chula" (1st 3 stanzas) poem of Godabarish Mishra, one of its founder members.

Location
Baidyanath Misra, the head of the department of Analytical & Applied Economics, instituted two academic chairs, funded by the Reserve Bank of India and the State Bank of India at the university. University Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Department of Pharmacy)

Rankings
Utkal University was ranked 93rd among universities by National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2023.

Accreditation
Utkal University was accredited A+ grade with CGPA of 3.26 on a 7 point scale National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in the third assessment cycle.

Notable alumni

 * Manjusri Misra, chemical engineer and research professor
 * Sangita Mukhopadhyay, Molecular cell biologist, N-Bios laureate
 * G. C. Murmu (b 1957), Comptroller and Auditor General of India
 * Ramesh C. Ray, agriculture and food microbiologist.