Narendra Modi becomes new Chancellor of Visva Bharati

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been appointed as the new Chancellor of Visva Bharati University for the next three years. He replaces former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who stepped down recently.

Modi’s appointment comes at a time when the varsity’s Vice Chancellor is facing probe of financial and administrative irregularities.

Visva-Bharati is the only central varsity which has the Prime Minister as its chancellor.

While President of India is the Paridarsaka (Visitor) of the University, the West Bengal Governor is the Pradhana (Rector), and the Prime Minister the Acharya (Chancellor).

The President of India appoints the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the University.

In 1939, Visva-Bharati was founded by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Santiniketan, West Bengal. It was declared a central university and an institution of national importance by an Act of Parliament in 1951.