Kalinga University's Review and Verdict by CollegeDekho

Campus at a Glimpse

Kalinga University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh was in the headlines related to the case of former SFI leader Nikhil Thomas producing a fake degree from Kalinga University for admission to another institution. However, Kalinga University stopped the controversy by confirming they hadn’t issued it. Students were found sceptical about whether the university produces fake degrees after the news. 

While a personal choice to believe in news blindly, Kalinga University is a reputed university in Naya Raipur. Though it is accredited with NAAC grade B, a large number of students enrol here every year. The university has a well-developed infrastructure and offers facilities like a hostel, transportation, internship, scholarship and an easy admission process. The majority of students are admitted through the Kalinga Scholastic Entrance Examination (KALSEE). However, direct admission is also possible as per the students. 

Students who are better in academics can get decent placement packages here, However, the average number of students sails between INR 2 LPA to INR 5 LPA. Internships are a bit of a joke here. Though the university offers an internship programme for 6 months, students are required to pay for it. Is it really an internship where you have to pay instead of getting paid? Diving deeper into the ocean of Kalinga University will surely help in making a choice. Let’s begin! 

Kalinga University NIRF Ranking: From Good to Great!

Our Take: 

The NIRF ranking of Kalinga University remains the same for two consecutive years 2023 and 2022. However, the university took a leap in 2022 from 2021 which indicated considerable growth which now seems stagnant. 

Kalinga University Academia & Batch Size

Based on the NIRF 2023 report, the approved intake for undergraduate and postgraduate courses for the 2022 batch was 1,515 students. However, the actual batch size was 4,356 students. The difference is huge! Some students have reported that 300 students were admitted to B.Ed when the approved intake was only 100. 

Kalinga University follows different systems such as choice-based credit, grading and semester system for evaluation. Students have found it easy to clear examinations with good grades here.

The curriculum of the majority of the Kalinga Univeristy courses is average including theory, practicals, assignments, presentations, projects and evaluations. Workshops and industry visits are also held. However, while some students have complained about the lack of proper academic staff in most of the departments, some have wholeheartedly given a thumbs up to the faculty stating that they are involved and cooperative. We guess it depends on the department/ course that you are studying and there seems to be a stark difference in the faculty set-up. 

Our Take:

The discrepancy in the batch and intake at Kalinga indicates either of two things - 1> The university is not popular enough 2> The university is not good enough and there are other options for students to choose from. We are getting mixed reviews about the faculty, so I guess you need to interact with them or alumni (of the department you are interested in) to assess properly. 

Kalinga University Infrastructure

Classroom: Classrooms at Kalinga University are ICT-enabled with wireless connectivity and projectors. The classrooms have normal desks and benches. Nothing extravagant. However, centralised AC keeps the temperature cool.  

Auditorium/ Seminar Halls/ Labs: The university has an auditorium with a seating capacity of 300-400 students. There are multiple seminar halls for the regular conduction of lectures and events. Laboratory facilities are above average according to the students. 

Library: The university has a central library with a 79,000+ stock of books and two reading rooms for 400 students. Digital library facilities are available. The university is also a member of several digital libraries such as NDL, DELNET, NPTEL, J-GATE, etc. 

Internet: The university claims to provide 24x7 Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the campus with 1 GBPS internet speed. 

Commute: As per the university, they have battery-operated carts and bicycles for commuting within the campus. However, the majority of students walk within the campus to commute from one department to another. 

Hostel: Separate hostel facilities for boys and girls are available at Kalinga University. There are 4 hostels in total, 3 for boys and 1 for girls. Students can choose between AC and non-AC rooms. Air-conditioned rooms cost more, around INR 10K to INR 12K p/m depending on the food preference (veg/non-veg). The majority of rooms have attached washroom facilities. 1 to 7-seater rooms are available here. Students can keep irons, hair dryers and other electrical equipment but they have to pay the electricity charges as well! 

Activities: Kalinga University organises a host of cultural, academic and sports activities, including induction programmes, festival celebrations, hands-on training, workshops, etc. The Student clubs also organise department-wise events. Also, CSR activities like awareness camps, NCC, NSS, etc. are organised from time to time as well. 

Cafe/ Hang-out Places: 

The Kalinga University campus has seven cafeterias offering a variety of snacks, veg/non-veg, etc. Canteen rates are average as its food quality! Talking about hangout places, students find it difficult to explore good places near the campus. One needs to travel 5 to 10 km towards Atal Nagar to spot the nearest hang-out places like Miraj Cinemas, Resto CG 04, etc.

Our Take: 

A huge check to the college for having the basic facilities and infrastructure in place. Students must check the social media evidence to have better knowledge of activities happening on campus. 

Kalinga University Internships and Placements

Internships: 

Kalinga University conducts 6-month internship programmes in collaboration with different organisations and its own departments. The fun fact is that the students have to pay a heavy fee from Rs 10K to 30K to participate in the internship programme. Not much help is provided to students regarding off-campus internships. Whether you participate and pay or find it yourself! 

Placements:

According to the NIRF 2023 report submitted by the university, 50% to 90% of the students have been placed during 2022 placements. The median salary can be seen sailing between Rs 2.5 LPA to Rs 4.5 LPA. Kalinga University has not revealed the highest placement package after 2019 which was Rs 10 LPA (lower than average universities). Also, not much footfall has been found in terms of leading recruiters. Let's have a look at the Kalinga University placement details. 

A list of leading recruiters visiting Kalinga University for placements is mentioned below:

• Nestle
• Infosys
• Tata
• zycus
• Tech Mahindra
• HDFC Bank
• NTPC
• Karvy
• TCS iON
• TOI
• LG
• Byju’s
• APPTech
• UltraTech Cement
• JARO SAIL
• Patanjali
• Axis Bank
• Jio
• Decathlon

Our Take: 

Verification of complete placement records is a must for any candidate prior to admission. As Kalinga University hasn’t released any placement statistics for two consecutive years, a sceptical opinion forms in students’ minds. The placement rate for four-year UG courses such as B.Tech is 90% but other UG courses are not even touching the 50% placement rate. The average package is also lower than the industry standard. 

Kalinga University Diversity & Demographics

Students from 20+ foreign countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, South Korea and Uganda have chosen Kalinga University for higher education. According to the NIRF 2023 report, 238 foreign students were admitted in 2022. Students have claimed Kalinga to be a diverse university with minimal signs of conflict among them. Furthermore, the enrollment of female students is higher than male students in both UG and PG courses which is a plus point. 

Male vs. Female students 

Indian vs Foreign students:

Our Take:
Kalinga University can be considered safe for female students and foreign students after looking at the numbers. Higher female enrollment is beneficial for the university. 

Kalinga University Faculty/College Administration & Management

Not much information is available about faculty and college administration. However, the university has some catching up to do to deliver quality education and has less experienced faculty as reported by the students. Various queries regarding ‘fake degrees’ made by the university are circulating online. Some students claim that getting a degree is much easier here if you are ready to pay heavy fees. 

Our Take:

Very popular in its geography, Kalinga University, Raipur can become a magnet for students from neighbouring states should it provide quality education. Of course, they have to prove all claims as false if they want to become a beacon of education in the state. 

Kalinga University Location

Kalinga University is located in the village of Kotni, near Mantralaya, Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Nava Raipur or New Raipur is a smart city and the fourth planned city in India which will be the new capital of Chhattisgarh in the near future. The distance of Kalinga University from Raipur is 28 km which takes 30-40 minutes to commute. 

Kalinga University: Expectation vs Reality CLD Verdict!

Let's begin with safety concerns at Kalinga University. If news is to be believed, frequent brawls between students and anti-social elements were reported in the past. It led to property damage and some students were injured in the fight. It raised safety concerns for the students of Kalinga University, especially women. However, not many issues were reported after that. With a high enrollment of females and considerable foreign students, Kalinga University can become a safer place to study. 

The admission process is simple and the administration is supportive. However, the student-to-faculty ratio is unknown and questions on faculty expertise keep surfacing time and again. The infrastructure and facilities are decent but they charge quite a hefty fee for it considering its geography and cost of living. The fee structure ranges between INR 25,000 for DCA to INR 2,40,000 for MBA per annum. The university has itself raised suspicion regarding placement opportunities by not disclosing course-wise placement statistics. 

However, Kalinga University is considered reputed in Chhattisgarh and a go-to university for students with average to good academic performance. 

Compare it yourself!