Century-old UoM is now limited to just Mysuru district

MYSURU: With the Karnataka government firm on establishing district-level universities by upgrading post-graduate centres in line with the National Education Policy, the century-old University of Mysore - the first to be set up in Karnataka and the sixth oldest in the country - will now govern colleges located in Mysuru district.
According to a gazette notification issued by the Karnataka government last week, the number of affiliated institutes will plunge from 234 to 87, and the student strength will come down from 1.2 lakh to about 40,000. In effect, the jurisdiction of the storied university is now limited to a third of its earlier reach and influence.
The university started on July 27, 1916 was the only prominent institution of excellence in Old Mysore region for several decades. Many varsities, including Bangalore University in 1964, which took birth in later years were carved out of UoM.
In his first budget speech, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai announced district-specific universities by upgrading post-graduate centres. The PG centres in Hassan, Mandya and Chamarajanagar, which were run by UoM, have now become universities.
Similarly, Kodagu colleges are no longer under Mangalore University and will be part of the newly formed Kodagu University.
UoM registrar R Shivappa said, "As per the government decision, only Mysuru city and rural colleges will be part of the university henceforth. Top-notch institutes like Hassan science and arts college and Mandya government college will also be out of the ambit of UoM. Colleges like Maharani, Maharaja's, and a slew of private colleges, among others in the district, will continue to remain with UoM."