Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Gangtok: Sikkim University took a financial hit. The state's only central university recorded a deficit of Rs 3,61,98,760 in its pre-audit accounts for the 2025-26 fiscal year. This marks a stark turnaround from the Rs 3,63,13,354 surplus posted the year prior. Total income slid to Rs 97,47,41,550, a drop of over Rs 11 crore from the 2024-25 haul of Rs 1,08,75,68,055.
Grants and subsidies, the school's primary cash pipeline, fell to Rs 85,37,14,000. Academic receipts, which cover tuition and exam fees, also slipped to Rs 2,90,24,704 from Rs 3,24,94,056. Total spending hit Rs 1,01,09,40,310, led by a Rs 60,91,28,449 bill for staff payments. Administrative costs added Rs 16,03,43,914, while depreciation accounted for Rs 12,35,88,885. These figures remain subject to final audit.
Construction struggles plague the institution. Two decades in, the university still operates out of 22 rented buildings throughout Gangtok. The permanent campus at Yangang remains incomplete. This ongoing stagnation spans the tenures of three separate vice-chancellors and creates fragmented operations.
Beyond the budget, classrooms sit empty. Observers point to more than 300 vacancies among the 840 sanctioned postgraduate seats as a sign of trouble. The situation raises concerns about the "institution's long-term academic competitiveness." Despite the operational deficit, the balance sheet grew to Rs 6,55,29,92,490. Capital work in progress stands at Rs 2,66,14,90,414, fueled by Rs 61,58,35,000 in government grants.
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