The State has a total of 32 autonomous colleges, 16 Government and 16 private, and of them, only 11 have National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) status, which is essential for a college to get UGC and RUSA assistances.
This was revealed from the information furnished by Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahy in the Assembly in response to a question of BJP MlA Dilip Ray on Thursday.
The eleven colleges, which have Grade B NAAC status, are SKCG Autonomous College (Govt), Rayagada Autonomous College (private), UN Auto College of Sc and Technology (private), Khariar Auto College (private), Vyasanagar Auto College (private), Salepur Auto College (private), FM Auto College (Govt), Karanjia Auto College (private), MPC Auto College (Govt), Government Autonomous College, Phulbani, and Ispat Auto College.
Though the rest of autonomous colleges, including the BJB Autonomous College, have applied for NAAC status since the year 2012, in which their NAAC statues expired, are yet to avail the same. Of these colleges, the application of the Nimapada Autonomous College (private) has been rejected and a NAAC team recently visited the VD Autonomous College, Jeypore, the Minister informed.
Of the 19 autonomous colleges which have no NAAC status now, 11 are Government ones, according to the information.