Sun Feb 16 14:17:05 UTC 2025: ## Mysore University Head Urges Merger of Newly Established Universities Amidst Funding Crisis

**Mysuru, February 16, 2025** – The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore, Prof. N.K. Lokanath, has advocated for the merger of three recently established universities in Mandya, Hassan, and Chamarajanagar with their parent institution, the University of Mysore. His recommendation follows a State Cabinet Sub-committee report proposing the closure of nine new universities in the state.

Prof. Lokanath criticized the previous government’s decision to rapidly expand the number of universities without sufficient resources or planning. This, he argued, has led to a strain on resources and a decline in academic quality across all affected institutions. The University of Mysore, established in 1916, experienced a significant reduction in revenue (approximately 50%) and affiliated colleges (from 224 to 112) after the creation of the three new universities. This loss is estimated to be ₹35-40 crore annually.

The reduction in the number of students at the University of Mysore (from approximately 40,000 to 20,000) also negatively impacts its academic standing and NAAC ranking. Prof. Lokanath suggests that re-affiliating the colleges from Mandya, Hassan, and Chamarajanagar with the University of Mysore would restore the university’s student body, improve its ranking, and partially solve the financial difficulties.

However, even if the merger proceeds, the University of Mysore faces severe staffing shortages, with a 65% vacancy rate for teaching staff. The Vice-Chancellor stressed the urgent need for government intervention to address this critical issue. The future of students graduating from the newly established, resource-strapped universities is also a major concern, as their degrees may not carry the same weight with potential employers.

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