Govt Science College granted university status

By Rithu Dravid | NT

Bengaluru: The iconic Government Science Colle ge has been elevated to the status of a university under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), and renamed as Nrupathunga University. The college was founded by the former Maharaja of Mysore, Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. It transitioned from an undergraduate college to a postgraduate college before receiving university status in 2020.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the ceremonial event of Nrupathunga University and unveiled the logo and foundation stone. “If we all read and follow the teachings of Basavanna, we can face life challenges without hardships and deal with them effectively,” Amit Shah said.

He also took part in the e-inauguration of the Ballari forensic science laboratory and unveiled the E-Beat App during the occasion. While addressing the gathering he said, “Proud to see that Karnataka was the first state to accept and implement the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP). It has become an example for other states. I can see Karnataka’s future and the youth will be the driving force for a better India.”

The NEP- 2020 aims to revolutionise education from the kindergarten to the post grad levels. The employment policy has been framed with the stress on promoting self-employment and entrepreneurship.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in his address to the thousands of students gathered at the event emphasised on the three ‘E’s- Education, Employment and Empowerment. He said, “Students are the future of this country and we have worked for two solid years to bring in changes in the education system, not only in the syllabus, but in the purpose of education itself.”

The Chief Minister also said the union government has granted Rs 55 crore for Nrupathunga University that has been dedicated to quality education and to preparing students for leadership in diverse walks of life.

In his opening remarks, Higher Education Minister Dr C.N. Ashwath Narayan thanked Amit Shah and said, “Human resource is the greatest asset of the country and the bottom-to-top approach of the NEP will pave the way to convert future citizens into productive individuals. Nrupathunga University will enable the young students through quality learning, which will help them become talented individuals and industry ready.”

However, the institution in its new avatar as a university will strive to be the best of its kind while keeping its traditions alive.

Vice- Chancellor Dr Srinivas S. Balli said, “It is a privilege that the 100-year-old institution has become a university and it is because of its merit under the RUSA, a central government scheme. This has elevated us as a unitary university, and this concept is one of its kind in the country. We have consistently performed well with an A+ merit and among the four government institutions in India to be at this position. This institution in 2020 received university status.”

Pralhad Joshi (Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Coal), Araga Jnanendra (Home Minister of Karnataka), P.C.Mohan (MP), Praveen Sood (DGP), Pradeep P (Commissioner- DCTE) were among those who were present.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr Kavitha, Registrar of the university.