Bhubaneswar, April 15 -- After the Odisha University (Amendment) Act, 2024, came into effect in the state, Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj on Tuesday said that it is the a "fundamental right" of a university to have autonomy, adding that the state government is creating a more progressive environment by enabling universities to collaborate with foreign institutions and industries.

"It is the fundamental right of a university to have autonomy. The previous BJD government stripped that away, placing the entire system under government control. This sparked a movement across Odisha -- from students to intellectuals -- demanding academic freedom. Our mandate was clear: we would restore autonomy to the universities. Today, w...