Delhi varsity to establish Centre for Odia Studies

The University of Delhi’s Executive Council (EC), in a meeting on Friday, approved several key academic, administrative and infrastructural proposals, including the establishment of a Centre for Odia Studies and the renaming of the renovated arts faculty convention hall as Vande Mataram Hall.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Yogesh Singh announced Vice President CP Radhakrishnan would be the chief guest at DU’s 102nd Convocation scheduled for February 28. The VP will also attend the university’s Nasha Mukti Abhiyan event on January 30, he said.

During the meeting, chief engineer Ashok Saini presented updates on the ongoing construction and renovation works, valued at around Rs 2,000 crore. Most of these projects are nearing completion, he said. The EC unanimously supported the proposal to name the arts faculty’s renovated convention hall Vande Mataram Hall.

The council also approved recommendations for establishing the Centre for Odia Studies within the Faculty of Arts. Highlighting its significance, the VC said, “The centre will expand the scope of discussion on Odia language, literature, culture, civilization and customs from the perspectives of future generations, thereby enhancing the understanding of this field of knowledge.”

He added that the centre would offer a two-year MA in Odia, and future modalities for a one year postgraduate programme under the NEP framework would be finalised later. The centre would also support doctoral level research, certificate and diploma courses and a generic elective in Odia Studies under the UG Curriculum Framework, 2022, he said.

The EC further approved the establishment of a broadcasting studio near the Vice Regal Lodge Building at a cost of Rs 23,208,537.

The council cleared the revised budget estimate for 2025–26, bringing it down from Rs 1,664.74 crore to Rs 1,312.33 crore. A budget estimate of Rs 1,651.42 crore was approved for the 2026–27 financial year.

The university proposed using 3.7 acres of vacant land in the Dhaka Complex for constructing a girls’ hostel. The land includes two unused acres, originally allotted to VPCI and 1.7 acres given to the Delhi School of Social Work. The proposal aims to enhance safety and accommodation facilities for female students.

Prof Yogesh informed the council that the Delhi University Literature Festival would be held from February 12 to 14, adding that the university aimed to make it “the best festival in the country.”

Minutes of the previous EC meeting and recommendations of the Academic Council’s December 5 meeting were also presented and approved.