Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University (MSCBU), formerly North Orissa University, was established by the Government of Odisha under Section 32 of the Odisha University Act, 1989, through Notification No. 880 dated July 13, 1998. Operational since 1999, it was carved out of Utkal University as an affiliating university located at Takatpur, Baripada, in Mayurbhanj District, Odisha. The university serves a region predominantly inhabited by tribal communities.

Recognized by the University Grants Commission under Sections 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956, effective from February 15, 2000, and June 21, 2006, respectively, MSCBU is accredited with an ‘A’ grade by NAAC in its 3rd cycle (valid until April 10, 2028). It is also recognized by the Bar Council of India, DEC, IGNOU, NCTE, and is a member of the Association of Indian Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. The university’s campus, Sriram Chandra Vihar, spans 98.84 acres, located 250 km from Kolkata and 260 km from Bhubaneswar.

57 colleges, including 2 autonomous colleges and one Teachers’ Education (B.Ed.) College are affiliated with MSCBU, offering education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels across Mayurbhanj District.

The Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), formerly the Directorate of Distance & Continuing Education, was established in 2003 to provide accessible, high-quality education to distant learners. It has evolved into a leading hub for distance education in Odisha, offering flexible postgraduate programs supported by modern technology and comprehensive study materials. By the 2019-20 academic year, CDOE had educated 14,496 students. After a brief hiatus, it resumed operations with UGC-DEB approval, offering five postgraduate programs—M.A. in Economics, English, Odia, Sanskrit, and Master of Social Work (MSW)—for the 2025-26 academic year, with admissions starting in July-August 2025.