Thu May 29 14:56:38 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Bharathidasan University in Tiruchi, India, faces potential financial strain due to a proposal to bifurcate it and create a new university named after M. Karunanidhi, to be headquartered in Kumbakonam. The new university would take over colleges from Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Ariyalur, and Nagapattinam districts, leading to an anticipated 50% drop in Bharathidasan University’s revenue from affiliation fees and other sources. Bharathidasan University, which relies heavily on student and college fees to cover its expenses, including faculty salaries, is already struggling financially due to declining revenue and dwindling state funding. While university officials state they are currently managing expenses, the bifurcation is expected to exacerbate their financial challenges.

**News Article:**

**Bharathidasan University Faces Financial Uncertainty Amid Bifurcation Plans**

**TIRUCHI, May 29, 2025** – Bharathidasan University in Tiruchi is bracing for potential financial challenges as the Department of Higher Education proposes its bifurcation to establish a new university named after former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, tentatively titled “Kalaignar University.”

The plan, which would see colleges in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Ariyalur, and Nagapattinam districts come under the jurisdiction of the new institution headquartered in Kumbakonam, is expected to significantly impact Bharathidasan University’s revenue. Sources predict a potential 50% decrease in income from affiliation fees, course affiliation fees, and student enrollment fees.

Currently, Bharathidasan University oversees approximately 158 institutions and relies heavily on revenue from these institutions, as well as its corpus fund, to meet its financial obligations, including salaries for its 263 faculty members and other staff. The university reportedly requires ₹6.5 crore to ₹8 crore monthly to cover salary expenses.

“There is no issue as of now in meeting its expenditure and it was being managed well” says a senior official of the Bharathidasan University.

However, the university has been facing challenges due to declining revenue and reduced state funding. The establishment of the Kalaignar University is expected to exacerbate these existing financial pressures. The university is currently assessing the modalities of managing resources after the creation of the new institute. The full impact on the university’s long-term financial stability remains to be seen.

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