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Gangadhar Meher University (GMU) in Sambalpur has been awarded a ‘B++’ grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), marking a significant step in the institution’s ongoing academic development.
The official results were released on Monday after a detailed assessment conducted by a NAAC peer review team in late May, stated a report by The Times of India.
Notably, a ‘B++’ grade corresponds to a cumulative grade point between 2.76 and 3, indicating ‘good’ performance under NAAC’s national accreditation standards.
Reports also added that the evaluation covered seven key parameters of curriculum design, teaching-learning processes, research and innovation, infrastructure, student support, governance, and best institutional practices.
A Journey of Steady Growth Since University Status
GMU, originally Gangadhar Meher Autonomous College, was upgraded to a university in 2015–16, becoming the first among the four newly designated universities at the time to receive 12(B) status from the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2019, enabling it to receive central funding.
While GMU has over 6,000 students and offers postgraduate, undergraduate, and PhD programmes, the institution continues to battle logistical challenges, including faculty and staff shortages and limited classroom space.
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Significance of NAAC Accreditation
NAAC accreditation is a key benchmark in India's higher education system, guiding institutional improvement and determining eligibility for grants, autonomy, and national ranking.
The B++ grade positions GMU in the ‘good’ performance tier, but also indicates room for enhancement, particularly in research output, innovation, and infrastructure development.
University officials are expected to leverage this grade as a baseline for future improvements. Plans are reportedly in place to prepare development proposals for the university’s libraries, hostels, classrooms, and digital learning infrastructure.
