Functioning of Unitary University: A perspective of India

Unitary universities in India have relatively more freedom in their functioning as compare to affiliated universities. Besides a general perspective of unitary universities in India, the main focus of this paper is on the nature of the functioning of Ravenshaw University particularly in the context of its autonomy and accountability. This study found that Ravenshaw University has evolved as the first higher education institution in the State of Odisha to fulfill the needs and inspirations of its people mostly located in Eastern India. So far as academic autonomy and accountability are concerned, as a unitary university, it has demonstrated stability with persistent efforts in the given array of constraints posed there in taking the responsibility of teaching, research and extension activities and has earned credits among people. In the context of administrative and financial autonomy, the University is restricted and found to be grappling in the matter of staffing and allocating funds for the creation of various teaching-learning support systems, welfare services including providing financial support to needy and meritorious students. However, irrespective of the positions and nature of works carried by the university functionaries and university as a whole it claims to be held accountable to all stakeholders and takes an important place in Eastern India with restricted freedom and limited supports in hand.