Ravenshaw only Odisha University with NAAC A++; over half across state still remain unaccredited

Ravenshaw University in Cuttack continues to stand out as the only public university in Odisha to hold the prestigious A++ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), a distinction it earned in November 2023.

Nearly two years since that accreditation, no other university in the state has matched this level of excellence.

Back then, the NAAC peer team assessed Ravenshaw on seven critical parameters, including curriculum design, teaching quality, research output, infrastructure, student support, governance, and institutional values.

The varsity earned a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.58, with its highest score of 3.91 coming in the category of ‘institutional values and best practices.’ Noteworthy contributions like its Braille library and Ravenshaw Radio earned special commendation.

ALSO READ: Odisha launches Apprenticeship-Embedded Degree programs (AEDPs) for 2025–26 session

A Lone A++ in a Sea of Gaps

While Ravenshaw remains the sole A++ accredited university in Odisha, other public universities continue to lag behind.

Utkal University holds an A+ grade, while Fakir Mohan, MSCB, and Sambalpur universities are rated A. Rama Devi Women’s University and Odisha State Open University possess B++ ratings, and Berhampur University holds a B grade.

Joining the list in June 2025, Gangadhar Meher University (GMU) in Sambalpur was awarded a B++ grade, following an intensive NAAC evaluation conducted in late May.

Government Acknowledges the Crisis

Despite these incremental gains, the broader picture remains worrisome. As of mid-2025, half of Odisha’s 17 public universities still lack NAAC accreditation, including Shree Jagannath Sanskrit University, Maa Manikeswari University, Rajendra University, and Odia University.

Chronic issues such as underfunding, faculty vacancies, and administrative delays have obstructed their ability to undergo accreditation.

Also Read | UG admission 2025: First selection cut-offs released, Cuttack’s Ravenshaw University tops list

Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj publicly acknowledged the crisis, revealing in the state Assembly that 62% of government colleges and 67% of aided colleges in Odisha also lack NAAC certification.

These deficiencies pose a significant threat under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which makes accreditation a prerequisite for funding, autonomy, and institutional recognition.

As Odisha braces for the full-scale implementation of the NEP, the question that remains is whether the rest of the state’s higher education institutions will rise to the challenge or continue to fall short of the benchmark already set by Ravenshaw University.