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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Proposed Vedanta University Project
| image_name = VedantaUniversityOrissaLogo.jpg
| established =
| chancellor =
| type = Proposed [[Private university|Private]]
| city = [[Konark]]
| state = [[Odisha, India|Odisha]]
| country = [[India]]
| students = None
| administrative_staff = None
| campus = [[Rural areas|Rural]], 6,000 acres planned, not yet acquired
| coordinates = {{coord |19.859804|85.934835}}
| endowment = Unverified endowment numbers
| website = [http://www.vedanta.edu.in www.vedanta.edu.in]
}}

'''Vedanta University''' is a proposed, private, multi-disciplinary, co-educational university to be started by [[Anil Agarwal (businessman)|Anil Agarwal]] of [[Vedanta Resources]] corporation near [[Puri]]-[[Konark]] highway, [[Orissa, India|Odisha, India]]. According to the news reports and as of Sep 2010, the plans of the university was a closed chapter.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news | url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/vedanta-university-a-closed-chapter/678836 | title=Vedanta University a closed chapter | newspaper=Indian Express | date=8 September 2010 | first=Debabrata | last=Mohanty | access-date=19 July 2018 }}</ref> However, in late April 2015 a revival of the project was initiated; The ex-Chief Secretary of Odisha, Mr. Bijay Patnaik, was hired as the President of the Vedanta University Project to revive this project.
<ref name=revival>
{{cite news
| date=1 May 2015
| title=Babu's Vedanta univ president post raises brows
| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Babus-Vedanta-univ-president-post-raises-brows/articleshow/47114751.cms
| newspaper=The Times of India
| first=Ashok | last=Pradhan
| access-date=19 July 2018 }}</ref>
<ref name=revival2>
{{cite web
| date=29 April 2015
| title=Former Odisha CS BK Patnaik joins Vedanta Group
| url=http://odishasuntimes.com/125296/former-odisha-cs-bk-patnaik-joins-vedanta-group/}}</ref>
<ref name=revival3>
{{cite web
| date=30 April 2015
| title=Former CS Patnaik joins Vedanta Varsity Project
| url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/former-cs-patnaik-joins-vedanta-varsity-project.html}}</ref>

==The vision==
{{advert|date=December 2017}}
[[Anil Agarwal (businessman)|Anil Agarwal]], an [[India]]n businessman, who heads the [[London]] based [[Vedanta Resources]] corporation and [[Naveen Patnaik]], the [[Chief Minister]] of [[Orissa, India|Odisha]] state in eastern India, had signed a memorandum of understanding to create a world class, multidisciplinary university, '''Vedanta University'''.<ref name=singh>{{cite web
| title=Anil Agarwal donates $1 billion to set up university
| url=http://ia.rediff.com/money/2006/feb/16ved.htm
}}</ref> The university, which would be entirely a [[Republic of India non-profit laws|not-for-profit venture]], was planned to be funded from Agarwal's personal funds<ref name=singh/><ref name=contr>{{cite web
|title = Major Private Gifts to Higher Education Since 1967
|url = http://chronicle.com/stats/big_gifts.htm
|access-date = 24 November 2005
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051124183251/http://chronicle.com/stats/big_gifts.htm
|archive-date = 24 November 2005
|url-status = dead
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref> Sam Pitroda, the chairman of the Knowledge Commission was the choice of the first chancellor of Vedanta University. Recent reports also suggest that at least three Nobel laureates have been contracted to join the university.<ref name=nobel>{{cite news
| title=Pitroda likely to be first Chancellor of Vedanta varsity
| newspaper=Business Standard India
| date=17 October 2012
| url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/pitroda-likely-to-be-first-chancellorvedanta-varsity/69412/on
| last1=India
| first1=Press Trust of
}}</ref> In July 2009, the government of Orissa passed a landmark bill to allow the massive university to be set up and function with autonomy.
<ref name=labill1>{{cite news
| title=Bill for Vedanta varsity gets legislative seal
| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-07-30/bhubaneswar/28157657_1_anil-agarwal-foundation-vedanta-university-varsity-project
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105154337/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-07-30/bhubaneswar/28157657_1_anil-agarwal-foundation-vedanta-university-varsity-project
| url-status=dead
| archive-date=5 November 2012
| first1=Sandeep
| last1=Mishra
| work=[[The Times of India]]
| date=30 July 2009
}}
</ref>
<ref name=labill2>{{cite web
| title=Orissa assembly passes Vedanta University Bill, 2009
| url=http://ptinews.com/news/204165_Orissa-assembly-passes-Vedanta-University-Bill--2009
}}</ref>

==Academics and research==
According to the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the university was being modeled most closely on [[Stanford University]] and aims to be a peer institution to them in terms of world class research and education.

[[File:VedantaUniversityOrissaLogo.jpg|thumb|200px|right]]

===Schools and colleges===
*[[Engineering]]
*[[Medicine]]
*[[Business]]
*[[Liberal Arts]]
*[[Sciences]]
*[[Law]]
*[[Performing Arts]]

===Centers of excellence===
*Health Sciences
*Manufacturing Sciences
*Agricultural Research
*Rural Economics
*Information & Communication Technology
*Pharmaceutical Research
*[[Urban Planning]]
*[[Nanotechnology]]
*[[Biotechnology]]

==Campus and township==
The foundation has identified {{convert|6000|acre|km2}} of land near the [[Puri]]-[[Konark]] marine drive between Nuanai and Balighai for the proposed Vedanta University. However the land acquisition for the university has hit a roadblock with the Supreme court ordering a status quo and hence the project has been stayed.
<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110129/jsp/orissa/story_13504711.jsp | location=Calcutta, India | work=The Telegraph | first=Samanwaya | last=Rautray | title=Status quo on Vedanta land | date=29 January 2011}}</ref>

== Environmental Violations ==
Several environmental violations were raised against the university which resulted in cases in the High court and the Supreme Court. In May 2010, [[Government of India]] asked the Anil Agarwal Foundation to stall the construction of the proposed Vedanta University at Puri to address issues related to environmental violations in the project.
<ref>[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/68978/centre-halts-vedanta-university.html Centre halts Vedanta university]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/jairam-says-no-to-vedanta-campus-in-orissa-24792 Jairam says no to Vedanta campus in Orissa | NDTV.com]</ref>

==Controversies==

An academic has questioned whether, given its location and size, Vedanta can achieve its aims of being a leading research university.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/29/stories/2007082955271300.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113064913/http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/29/stories/2007082955271300.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=13 November 2007 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Vedanta University: a flawed pipe dream | date=29 August 2007}}</ref> A rejoinder was also published.<ref>[http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/576 Odisha HRD » Rejoinder to "Vedanta University: a flawed pipe dream"]</ref> Another criticism leveled at the university, by politicians, local academicians, and the farmers currently occupying the proposed site relates to the relatively vast area of the proposed campus and its large student intake, although a few individual opinions differ.<ref>{{cite web
| title=Vedanta University in Orissa & the dismal state of higher education in country
| url=http://www.orissadiary.com/ShowOriyaColumn.asp?id=14012
| work=Orissa Diary
| date=21 Aug 2009
}}</ref>

===Legal Issues===

====High Court Declares Land Acquisition for the University as Illegal and Void ====
On 16 November 2010, the Orissa High Court declared the land acquisition for the Rs 15,000-crore Vedanta University project in Puri town as illegal and void<ref>[http://www.achrweb.org/ihrrq/issue2/orissa.html Asian Centre for Human Rights]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/land-acquisition-procedure-for-vedanta-unive/712043/ Land acquisition procedure for Vedanta University illegal: HC - Indian Express]</ref><ref>[http://www.financialexpress.com/news/land-acquisition-procedure-for-vedanta-university-illegal-hc/712043/ Land acquisition procedure for Vedanta University illegal: HC]</ref>
<ref name="allvoices">http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7349104-another-set-back-to-vedanta {{dead link|date=August 2021}}</ref>

====Supreme Court - Status quo on all land acquisition for Vedanta ====
A couple of months later, the Supreme court of India based in New Delhi ordered a stay or status Quo on all acquisition proceedings.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-29/india/28357173_1_anil-agarwal-foundation-sc-orders-status-vedanta-university | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826003626/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-29/india/28357173_1_anil-agarwal-foundation-sc-orders-status-vedanta-university | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 August 2012 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=SC orders status quo on Vedanta university land in Orissa | date=29 January 2011}}</ref>

=== University was a closed chapter for four plus years ===
News paper reports appeared saying that the university is a closed chapter.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

==Revival Attempt starting 30 April 2015 ==
A revival of the project is being tried with the hiring of the ex-Chief Secretary of Odisha, Mr. Bijay Patnaik, as the President of the Vedanta University Project. He joined this position on 30 April 2015.
<ref name="revival2"/>
<ref name="revival3"/>
He told TOI
<ref name="revival"/>
that his priority would be to expedite the decision in the supreme court case. Asked about potential conflict of interest, he said that such a question does not arise as the project he has joined has nothing to do with Vedanta as a company and he personally feels that the university is a desirable project that should take shape in the interest of Odisha. In an interview with Telegraph
<ref name=revival10>
{{cite web
| date=23 May 2015
| title=Hot seat: Bijay Kumar Patnaik, IAS (retired), former chief secretary and current president of Vedanta University project
| url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150523/jsp/odisha/story_21641.jsp#.VWD_JVnBy_S}}</ref> he discusses more details on his task in reviving Vedanta University. He also gave an interview
<ref name=revival11>
{{cite web
| date=14 May 2015
| title=Kholakatha 14 May 2015
| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPpX8imawZI}}</ref> (in Odia) to OTV, a major cable channel in Odisha where he addresses many questions that has been raised by the media on this issue.

Some signs of a possible revival were earlier reported in September 2014
<ref name=revival5>
{{cite web
| date=26 September 2014
| title=Anil Agarwal to donate 75% of wealth for good of society
| url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/anil-agarwal-to-donate-75-of-wealth-for-good-of-society/article6449869.ece}}</ref>
and December 2014.
<ref name=revival4>
{{cite news
| date=6 December 2014
| title=Anil Agarwal: Charity on his mind Agarwal has pledged three-fourths of his wealth to philanthropy. Will he deliver?
| newspaper=Business Standard India
| url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/anil-agarwal-charity-on-his-mind-114120501329_1.html| last1=Satapathy
| first1=Bhupesh Bhandari Dillip
}}</ref>
However, prior to that, in the previous years (2012, 2013), Anil Agarwal in some of his interviews did talk about his continuing interest in establishing Vedanta University.
See for example:
<ref name=revival6>
{{cite news
| date=1 November 2012
| title= Vedanta Group hopeful of revival of varsity project
| newspaper= Business Standard India
| url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/vedanta-group-hopeful-of-revival-of-varsity-project-112110100557_1.html| last1= India
| first1= Press Trust of
}}</ref>
<ref name=revival7>
{{cite web
| date=28 November 2012
| title=Anil Agarwal to take a non-executive post at Vedanta in 3-4yrs
| url=http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-anil-agarwal-to-take-a-non-executive-post-at-vedanta-in-3-4yrs-1770830}}</ref>
<ref name=revival8>
{{cite news
| date=19 February 2013
| title= Vedanta will double earnings to $12-13 bn in 2-3 years: Anil Agarwal: Interview with chairman, Vedanta
| newspaper= Business Standard India
| url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/vedanta-will-double-earnings-to-12-13-bn-in-2-3-years-anil-agarwal-113021800960_1.html| last1= Chatterjee
| first1= Dev
}}</ref>

The Supreme court of India on 28 November 2016 gave some positive indications that it may allow Vedanta University. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India and a member of the bench hearing this case, Justice T.S. Thakur, is quoted to have said "Why should anyone oppose setting up of a world class university which will give opportunity to over one lakh students? If somebody is making an investment of Rs 2,500 crore in education, why should somebody oppose it? Students will benefit. Public would benefit."
<ref name=revival9>
{{cite web
| date=29 November 2016
| title= SC hope for varsity plan by Vedanta
| url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1161129/jsp/frontpage/story_121901.jsp#.WErFHqIrJE4}}</ref>
The Supreme Court bench seems to have suggested that the court may monitor the setting up of the university so as to make sure that the land is used for the
university and not for commercial purposes.
<ref name=revival1a>
{{cite web
| date=29 November 2016
| title= May monitor setting up of private university in Odisha: SC
| url=http://indianexpress.com/article/education/may-monitor-setting-up-of-private-university-in-odisha-sc/}}</ref>
Following that, the promoter, Mr. Anil Agarwal, said to OTV in Bhubaneswar: "We will definitely go ahead with the plan to set up the university".
<ref name=revival1b>
{{cite web
| date=1 December 2016
| title= Vedanta hopeful of Puri varsity
| url=http://odishatv.in/odisha/body-slider/vedanta-hopeful-of-puri-varsity-179504/}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Higher education in Orissa]]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120826003626/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-29/india/28357173_1_anil-agarwal-foundation-sc-orders-status-vedanta-university SC Orders status quo on Vedanta University]
*[http://www.vedanta.edu.in Vedanta University Official Site]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070505053447/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/time100powergivers/article/0,28804,1616375_1615711_1615671,00.html Anil Agarwal]
*[http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2006/7/27/newIndianUniversityModeledAfterStanford New Indian university modeled after Stanford]
*[http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2006/07/24/daily11.html Baltimore architects hired to design new Indian university]
*[http://chronicle.com/daily/2006/07/2006072006n.htm Indian Foundation Will Give $1-Billion to Create a Huge Research University]
*[http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_6146.shtml Billionaire Proposes New Research University]
*[http://www.businesswireindia.com/PressRelease.asp?b2mid=10309 The Anil Agarwal Foundation Announces a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Orissa to Establish Vedanta University]
*[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1767838.cms Vedanta, Orissa to sign MoU for mega varsity]
*[http://indiaenews.com/2006-07/15472-orissa-vedanta-university.htm Orissa to have world class Vedanta University]
*[http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1042717 And a $3 billion hope for education]
*[http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=134616 Orissa’s $3 bn to Vedanta varsity]
*[https://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060816/1a_opklamoneychartxx.art.htm Giving big: Largest gifts to colleges]
*[http://www.citybizlist.com/lstg/lstgDetail.aspx?id=8794 $1 billion investment inspired India's new Vedanta University]
*[http://vedantauniv.blogspot.com/ Vedanta University]
*[http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/16190/topnotch-univ-to-come-up-in-orissa.html Top-notch Univ to come up in Orissa] (CNN-IBN video)
*[http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=1137 U.S. firm unveils masterplan for Indian university]
*[http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i45/45a02601.htm?=attw "In Rural India, an Ambitious Academic Vision"] Chronicle of Higher Education, 13 July 2007.
*[http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i45/45a02602.htm For Planners, the Opportunity of a Lifetime]
*[http://chronicle.com/temp/email2.php?id=KqgGHdJM5mszbhcnbTMKSrpYczpmmbSm In Rural India, an Ambitious Academic Vision] Chronicle of Higher Education, July, 2007.
*[http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2007/10/24/indianCollegeToBeModeledAfterStanford Indian college to be modeled after Stanford]
*[https://www.forbes.com/global/2009/0316/044_campus_politics.html Campus Politics]
*[https://www.forbes.com/global/2009/0316/044_higher_education.html Higher and Bigger Education in Orissa]

{{Vedanta Resources}}
{{Universities in Orissa}}

[[Category:Universities in Odisha]]
[[Category:2006 in education]]
[[Category:Puri]]
[[Category:Vedanta Resources]]
[[Category:Proposed buildings and structures in India]]

Vedanta University - Revision history

ShantaeBpy: brief expanded details for consistency and corrected details

imported>AnomieBOT: Dating maintenance tags: {{Dead link}}