Classes in Temporary Sheds, No Regular Faculty, and Teachers Paid Just Rs 500 per class

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government established 11 new universities between 2017 and 2018, with a vision to create institutions comparable to those found in Chicago and Harvard. However, a recent investigation reveals that many of these universities are facing significant challenges, including functioning out of temporary premises, a lack of permanent faculty, and declining student enrollment.

Expansion of Universities in West Bengal

In January 2017, Banerjee announced plans for a new university modeled after Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan. She stated her government’s intention to build higher education institutions that rival the best in the world. Prior to this expansion, West Bengal had 13 universities. The Trinamool Congress, led by Banerjee, established 16 new universities after coming to power for the first time in 2011.

Challenges Faced by New Universities

While classes in most of the 11 universities established between 2017 and 2018 began in 2021, statutory recognition – the legal authority to award degrees – was only granted to all but Darjeeling Hill University in January 2024, as the government seeks a fourth term. An investigation by The Indian Express found that seven of the 11 universities continue to operate from temporary premises, and none have permanent faculty. Most rely on guest lecturers paid at a rate of Rs 500 per class.

Currently, approximately 17,000 students are enrolled across eight of these universities, with three not sharing their exact enrollment numbers. Student strength has been declining in many of the institutions.

Political Context and Funding

The state of education in West Bengal has become a point of contention, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticizing the Trinamool Congress government over alleged recruitment scams involving teachers. Appointments at the universities were stalled between 2023 and 2024 due to a dispute between the then Governor, C V Ananda Bose, and Chief Minister Banerjee regarding the finalization of appointments. A Supreme Court committee was constituted on July 8, 2024, to resolve the stalemate, after which V-C posts were filled and statutory status granted.

For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the TMC government allocated 14.8% of its budget to education, which is close to the national average but represents the lowest share allocated to education in the state budget since 2023-24.

University Spotlights

Dakshin Dinajpur University, Balurghat

Established in February 2018, Dakshin Dinajpur University began operations in October 2021 with 250 students. It currently offers three postgraduate courses: English, Political Science, and Maths. The university has been operating out of rented and temporary spaces, including a private residence, a college, and a hostel building. A 11.07-acre plot has been earmarked for a permanent campus, but construction has stalled after the completion of a boundary wall.

Harichand Guruchand University, Thakurnagar

Announced in November 2018, Harichand Guruchand University began functioning in January 2021, offering four postgraduate subjects: Bengali, Education, History, and Journalism and Mass Communication. Classes are currently held in a neighboring government school and a college. The university has around 168 students and relies on approximately 35-40 guest faculty.

Hindi University, Howrah

The foundation stone for the Hindi University was laid in March 2019, and it began operations in January 2020, focusing on higher education in Hindi and related languages. It currently offers four postgraduate courses and has around 133 students. Classes are held in an abandoned Howrah Municipal Corporation building, and a new building is ready but unoccupied due to funding concerns.

Darjeeling Hill University, Jogighat

The first university in the hill area of Bengal, Darjeeling Hill University, laid its foundation in September 2018. It began functioning in 2021 from the North Bengal University Campus, then moved online, and is now housed at the Industrial Training Institute, Bhasmey. It offers postgraduate courses in English, Nepali, History, Political Science, Mathematics and Mass Communication, with around 80 students.

Rani Rashmoni Green University, Singur

Announced in 2017 and renamed in 2018, Rani Rashmoni Green University began its academic year in 2020 with two undergraduate subjects: Chemistry and Environmental Science. It now offers 14 subjects and has around 200 students, but continues to operate from the premises of the Government General Degree College in Singur. Construction on a new campus has stalled due to tender issues.

Kanyashree University, Nadia

Exclusively for girls, Kanyashree University began functioning in 2020 and offers 11 postgraduate departments with “around a thousand” students. However, classes continue to be held in a building of Krishnanagar Collegiate School. The university lacks a dedicated campus and hostel facilities.

Mahatma Gandhi University, Mahishadal

Established in 2018 and renamed from Purba Medinipur University, Mahatma Gandhi University began operations in 2020 with postgraduate courses in Bengali and History. It currently operates from two floors of the annex building of Mahishadal College. Construction on a new campus has been initiated but stalled after the completion of boundary walls.

Universities with Campuses

Sadhu Ramchand Murmu University, Jhargram

Established in 2018 and operational since 2021, Sadhu Ramchand Murmu University offers 18 subjects with 1,500 students. It has shifted to its own 27-acre campus, including a playground and seminar hall.

Biswa Bangla University, Bolpur

Biswa Bangla University, with an impressive campus designed by the same firm as JNU in Delhi, has 85 classrooms but only 992 students. It offers postgraduate programs in 19 departments and relies on 58 guest lecturers and 33 casual office staff.

Colleges Transformed into Universities

Alipurduar University, Alipurduar

Alipurduar College, established in 1957, became Alipurduar University in 2018 and began functioning in 2020. It has over 6,000 undergraduate students and approximately 3,000 postgraduate students. The university is utilizing the existing college infrastructure.

Maharaja Krishnanath University, Murshidabad

Maharaja Krishnanath College, founded in 1853, was transformed into Maharaja Krishnanath University in 2018 and began operations in 2021. It has around 2,500 undergraduate and 900 postgraduate students. The university is currently renovating its existing infrastructure.

Repeated attempts to reach Education Minister Bratya Basu and Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education, Binod Kumar, for comment were unsuccessful.