Sambalpur University is a state university under the University Grants Commission, Government of India. The Sambalpur University Act was passed by the Odisha Legislature on 10th December 1966 to fulfill the long-cherished dream of the people of Western Odisha for the establishment of a university. The University started functioning on 1st January 1967 with Prof. Parsuram Mishra as the first Vice-Chancellor. The University was inaugurated on 4th January 1967 by Hon'ble Chancellor A.N. Khosla. The University started functioning in 1967 in a rented private building at Dhanupali, Sambalpur, and in the Government building at Ainthapali, Sambalpur from 1968-72. In the year 1973, the University was shifted to the present campus named Jyoti Vihar at Burla.
