University of Calcutta to Invest ₹35 Crore in Research Upgrades

Calcutta University (CU) has been sanctioned ₹35 crore under the Rashtriya Uchchatara Shiksha Abhiyaan (RUSA 2.0) scheme, with 60% of the funds coming from the Union government and 40% from the state. The grant will be used to purchase advanced instruments and enhance research facilities across departments.

The funding comes at a crucial time as CU looks to improve its performance in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), where the university slipped from 4th to 15th among state universities and from 18th to 39th in the overall university category this year.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ashutosh Ghosh, who joined CU earlier this month, has emphasized research, publications, patents, and projects as key priorities. “Investing in research now will ensure better results in the coming years, attract bright students, and unlock more funding,” he said.

The university had previously received partial funds under RUSA 2.0 and will aim to secure the remaining amount after submitting the utilisation certificate for the latest grant. CU’s departmental heads have been instructed to start procuring the specified instruments, marking a significant step toward academic excellence and innovation in Kolkata.