The erstwhile Princely State of Nayagarh occupied a prominent place in the Freedom Movement of India for its bloody Struggle against the British rule. After being liberated from the Royal Shackles, it joined the national political mainstream in 1948 a year after the independence of our country. Subsequently, along with three other neigbouring princely states, Nayagarh (now a district) formed a part of Puri district as a sub-division in the state of Orissa. In the receding tide of colonial hang-over when the era of Reconstruction of Indian Nation began under the dynamic leadership of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the people of Nayagarh just liberated from the princely shackles, were not lagging behind. They could very well read the national meaning of the new spirit and felt an urge to establish an institution for higher education..

In the year 1952, the first proposal for establishing a college came from the then S.D.O. Sri Udayanath Pattnaik. In the year 1961, with sustained efforts, selfless dedication, unstained co-operation with the proponents and diffusing inspiration among the people, the then S.D.O. Sri Bhramarabar Jena took the cudgel and kingpinned all the levers he could pull, to establish the college. With generous charities of land fro the Endowments of Sri Gopinath Jew; Her Majesty the Queen of the erstwhle princely state of Nayagarh; the Forest Department; the then Eastern zone Command Base (now the Police Training School, Nayagarh) and numerous small-land owners, the college came into existence on a Syivan surrounding at the foot of the Rukhi Range on the 9th July 1961.

Initially, the college had to pass through financial hard times. It is said – “When the Going Gets Tough”, the Tough Gets Going”, and the Gough – Late Bhramarbara Jena, the Founding Father of the college left no stones unturned to see that funds from diverse sources start pouring in. Even the common people of the Nayagarh sub-division came forward to contribute a year’s extra revenue to shape the college in its infancy.

The main building of the college was inaugurated on the 10th February, 1963 by the then Governor of Orissa, an eminent engineer and statesman par excellence Dr. A. N. Khosala. the College started with a humble strength of 100 students, 10 lecturers and almost as many office and laboratory staff. Over the years it had grown to a massive, towering two storeyed edifice with as many as 100 faculty members, 100 lab/technical/ministerial support staff and a close to 1600 Degree students. In its initial years, the college rose to eminence under the able stewardship of a galloping warhorse Prof. Sri Gopal Chandra Pattnaik as the Founder Principal. Behind all the activities the unseen hand of the great son of Orissa was there though out. He was none other than Shri Biju Pattnaik, a great statesman and former Chief Minister of Orissa. There were many people whose active role to shape the college in its initial years can never be undermined. To name a few who will be long remembered for their valuable contribution and active role are Shri Akrura Mohapatra, Advocate; Shri Raghunath Mohapatra, nenowned Agriculturist; Shri Narasingha Pattnaik, Advocate; Shri Raghunath Das, first NAC Chairman of Nayagarh and a Social activist; Shri Achyutananda Mohanty, Ex-MLA, Nayagarh; Shri Rajkishore Pattnaik, Poet; Shri Rajkishore Pattnaik, Advocate; Shri Jaladhar Behera, Advocate; Shri Krishna Chandra Satapahty, Advocate and Sri Benudhar Mohapatra, Agriculturist. And above all, the rulers of four princely states Nayagarh, Khandapada, Daspalla and Ranpur generously contributed for the establishment of the college.

The foundation stone was actually laid down by a very common man of Nayagarh – The “Lotus” symbol of engraved in the front side of the Academic Building signifies “Let the fragrance of knowledge emanate from this Academia and spread throughout.”

The second storey of the massive college building was started and completed during three year stint of Prof. Ramesh Chandra Pattnaik as Principal from 1984 to 1987. he scope of learning initially limited to P.U. Science and Humanities, was expanded in succeeding years; first with the provision of first year degree in both the faculties and later with B.A. B.Sc. classes affiliated to the Utkal University. Pass classes in English, Sanskrit, Political science, History, Economics, Psychology Philosophy, Physics, chemistry, Biology and Mathematics were introduced from the year 1962. Pass classes in commerce, started from the year 1981 and in Education and sociology from the year 1991. Honourse courses in political science, Economics and Mathematics started in 1966, Oriya in 1968, History, Phychology, Chemistry and zoology in 1973, English and physics in 1974, Sanskrit and Biology in 1976, Philosophy in 1977, Commerce in 1986, and Sociology and Education in 1995 to provide an opportunity for higher education to the students of lower economic status who had been deprived of it for a long time. From 1998 Seed Technology as a U.G.C. sponsored vocational subject with better job prospect has been opened for +3 CBZ pass students only. After the introduction of the 10+2+3 pattern in Orissa, Higher Secondary courses were opened simultaneously in Arts,Science and Commerce in the academic session 1983-84, and the institution was affiliated to the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Orissa. The mission of the college is ‘Learning brings the fruits of immortality”. This means quest for knowledge, dissemination of knowledge and enlightenment. The goal of the college is to create the necessary facilities to achieve the above mission by fostering creativity, Scientific temper, Sportsmanship and leadership quality and transforming the college into a centre of academic excellence through need based education and skill based training. At present the college offers Under Graduate Programme in 19 subjects covering all the three faculties with Honours teaching facilities in 16 subjects, Certificate course in Computer Study to justify its status as a Premier Non-Government Aided institution of the state. The infrastructure includes the massive two storied Academic Building that houses all the Arts, Commerce and Science Departments and laboratories, office rooms for both the wings of  N.C.C.,N.S.S and Youth Red Cross. The Administrative Block includes Central office and Examination Section, The Library building houses Reading Room, Three hostels (Two Gents’ and one Girls’), 10 Staff Quorters and a Spacious Play ground with 400 mt track are the added attractions of our College. Gents’ hostel has been named after the noted poet, Kabi Jadumani, while the other has been named after the world famous Astrophysicist Pathani Samanta, the worthy son of Khandapada. The Womens’ hostel has been named after the woman freedom fighter, Malati Choudhury. Besides its own water supply system on the Sprawling Campus, other amenities of the College include Open Air Auditorium, Canteen, Guest house, Health Centre, cycleshed, post office, and NCC Firing Range.The college Library has a total stock of 35,139 books (under graduate and Higher Secondary) including 16, 309 reference books and 4,910 books in the Book Bank, subscription to 29 journals and periodicals, Reading Room facility for the teachers and the students, circulation facility, clipping facility, audio-visual facility and internet access. The cataloguing system is fully computerised.The college came into UGC fold in July 1964 under 2(f) and subsequently under 12 (B). Since then the UGC has been providing adequate financial assistance for promotion of academic activities as well as for the development of infrastructure. The college has recently been declared an Autonomous College by the UGC w.e.f. from the session 2006-07.