Soban Singh Jeena University Pandit Badridutt Pandey Campus, Bageshwar, District-Bageshwar (Uttarakhand) came into existence as Degree College on October 22, 1974 with the efforts of then Honble MLA Smt. Saraswati Tamta. Five years later, it was upgraded as Post Graduate College. The college is named after Shri Badri Dutt Pandey who faught against the Britishers and abolished the prevailent Kulee Begar Pratha a practice of exploiting common people. For this gallent act, he was honoured as "Kumaon Kesari.
The college has come as a Torch Bearer of higher education for boys and girls. Right from its beginning, the college is engaged in providing quality education in the rural, remote, backward and hilly region of the state. The college is spread over a span of 17.5 acres land and is situated at the bank of holy river Saryu. At present , more than 3500 regular students are studying in various disciplines of the college. At present, there are three faculty named Art, Science and Commerce in the institution and under these faculty 14 departments- Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Economics, Sociology, Political Science, History, Geography, Physics, Mathematics, Zoology, Botany, Chemistry and Commerce are being run. Besides these, some important professional/vocational courses like P.G. Diploma in Yoga and Alternative Therapy, Diploma in Office Management and Secretial Practice, self-financed B.Ed., Fish Technology, Nursery Technology and Orchard Management are being offered. Almost all departments of the college as well as office are fully computerized and equipped with broadband internet connectivity. In the age of communication technology, multimedia projectors, OHPs, Computers, Audio-Visual aids, Models, Posters etc. like teaching-learning tools are being used in class-room teaching in the college. In 2009, IGNOU has selected the college as Partner Institution under its Convergence Scheme and at present offering 29 PG/UG/PG Diploma/Diploma/Certificate programmes alongwith IGNOU B.Ed. In 2009, Regional Centre alongwith study centre of Uttarakhand Open University was established with many PG/UG/Diploma/Certificate programmes in the college.
This institution is located in rural, remote, backward and hilly region, so it is catering to the higher educational needs of boy and girl students coming mostly from poor socio- economic backgrounds. In the college, there are students with poor, rural and tribal communities upto some extent. Although university offers Hindi and English as the medium of examination but majority of the students opt Hindi medium. After completing their graduation or post graduation,very few of them are interested in higher studies either in nearby HEIs or getting selected through competitions in professional courses like B.Tech., MBA, MCA, B. Ed., Defence Services, Police Services, banking etc. The college tries to provide financial help to its deserving poor students, depending on the funds position.
The institution is marching ahead leaps and bounds. Increasing students enrolment is the reflection of the success of the college. Students find quite homely, peaceful, harmonious, progressive, disciplined atmosphere in the college campus. Proctorial Board and grievance and redressal cell in the college is a platfarm where students and staff members express their views and problems without any hesitation. The college has been providing its students the opportunities to participate in various competitive activities at national, state, university, intercollegiate and college level through extension services like NCC, Sports, NSS, Rovers/Rangers, cultural events, debates and other competitions, thus helping them to groom their overall personalities.Career and Counselling Cell of the college organizes series of lectures of the successful people belonging to the diversified areas to boost the moral of the students. The institution has always made efforts to augment its infrastructure with the increasing demand of the students. Administrative block including Conference Hall, Library, Science Block, Women hostel for SC/ST students, Boys hostel for SC/ST students are under construction. In the campus, there are already two boys hostels (one for SC/ST boy students) and one girls hostel.College has made requests and sent proposals to Department of Higher Education, State Government, UGC,University and public representatives for other construction/works like Overhead water tank, . Consequently, the college has received donations from Sansad nidhi, Vidhayak nidhi; grants from state Government, University and UGC for the construction of buildings, library, office, laboratories, sports material etc. The college has also sent proposals to Government through Department of Higher Education to create new posts as per UGC norms.
College is making efforts to enhance the existing facilities to justify the students strength. However, these are not sufficient due to meager state funding. To enhance the facilities and improve reading habits among the students, it is necessary to enlarge the existing system in various ways. Recreational facilities, resources for educational excursions and better environment etc. are the important ingredients of the whole educational edifice. Their availability and sufficiency will help in enlarging the vision and outlook of students as well as teachers.
Teachersparticipate in Orientation Programmes, Refresher Courses, conferences, seminars, workshops and other training/developmental programmes to update themselves in various disciplines. Teachers are also involved in other academic and research works. Various research schemes funded by various agencies are being successfully carried out by the faculty members. To create and maintain the academic and research environment, number of conferences/seminars/workshops etc. are organized in the college. Large number of students also participate in the seminars etc. Faculty members also take deep interest in extension activities and some of them are rewarded for their contribution.
The college is listed under section 2(f) and 12(B) of UGC Act 1956. Accordingly, this college was declared eligible for receiving assistance from the UGC and other central sources in terms of Rules framed under Section 12- B of the UGC Act. The college is declared "Vishishta Mahavidyalaya by the Department of Higher Education, Uttarakhand Government, and is continuously receiving grants for the development. During 11thplan, UGC has allocated grants under merged schemes for many activities such as the establishment of UGC Network Resource Centre, Career and Counselling Cell, Equal opportunity centre, Coaching for SC/ST students for service entry, remedial classes for SC/ST/OBC students. The college is accrediated by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2006. Thus, Kumaon Kesari Pt. Badridutt Pandey Government Post Graduate College, Bageshwar is marching ahead keeping in view its Vision and Mission.