Cotton University, formerly known as Cotton College, is a public state university located in Guwahati, Assam, India. It was established in 2017 by the provisions of an Act from the Assam Legislative Assembly which merged Cotton College State University and Cotton College. The university has progressed to become one of the top 200 institutions of the country (appearing on the list of 150–200 in the National Institutional Ranking Framework rank list in May 2020).[2] However, as of 2024, Cotton University is ranked 373rd in the NIRF, whereas Gauhati University holds a commendable 40th position in the same ranking.[3][4]
Cotton College was established in 1901 by Sir Henry Stedman Cotton, chief commissioner of the former British province of Assam. It was the oldest institute of higher education in Assam and all of Northeast India.[5] Cotton College became a constituent college of Gauhati University in 1948, and then of Cotton College State University when it was established in 2011, by an Act (Act XIX of 2011) of the Assam Government. The Cotton University Act, 2017, was enacted to resolve problems between the college and the university.[6]
Accreditation
A 2002 stamp dedicated to Cotton University
Cotton University, then Cotton College, was accredited with an "A++" grade and a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.76 on a four-point scale by the 18th SC Executive Committee of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) on 5 November 2016, reflecting high institutional quality.[7] As of 6 September 2024, the university's accreditation status was revised to an "A" grade with a CGPA of 3.05 on a seven-point scale.[8]
History
Main structure of the University
In 1899, Manik Chandra Baruah wrote to the British government asking to open a college in Guwahati, in so far as Assam was the only province with no college and that Guwahati was the most convenient location. In response, Sir Henry Stedman Cotton, K.C.S.I., then the Chief Commissioner of Assam, announced on 3 November 1899 that a college would be opened in Guwahati. Cotton College, named by the public, was inaugurated on 27 May 1901 by Cotton himself. Before 1948, It was affiliated with Calcutta University[9] and began with five professors which included Frederick William Sudmerson, the first principal of the college, and 39 students.
The college was the centre of the freedom movement as well as literary and cultural movements of the state, which aimed to build Assam's identity as a distinct, integral component of India. When Gauhati University was established in 1948, Cotton College became affiliated with it as a constituent college.[10] In 2015, the college was declared a Special Heritage College.[9]
On 16 October 1992, the college was named as a center of excellence,[11] an occasion celebrated in a solemn ceremony with Shankar Dayal Sharma, then President of India, and it officially became a post-graduate college.[10]
Cotton College State University
First Block of Cotton College
Cotton College State University was created through an Act of the Government of Assam (Act XIX of 2011). This act received the assent of the Governor of Assam on 3 September 2011, published in the Assam Gazette on 5 September 2011. The Cotton College became its constituent college.[12]
The election for the university's first Academic Council and University Court was held on 22 February 2013 with three and five members elected respectively.[13]
Cotton University
Over time, conflicts emerged between the university and the college chiefly over the custody of properties. The Assam Legislative Assembly passed an amendment in 2015 that the university and the college be run as separate institutes.[14] The bill, called The Cotton University Act 2017, was passed by the Assam Legislative Assembly on 2 March 2017 in order to resolve these problems.[6] By this act, the university and college would be completely merged.[14] Upon enforcement, the university was renamed Cotton University.[15] By ordinance, the governor of Assam, Banwarilal Purohit became chancellor, who then appointed Bhabesh Chandra Goswami as the first vice chancellor in July 2017.[16]
Campus
A structure at Cotton University
Cotton University's campus spans 39.82 acres in Panbazar, Guwahati, an area known for its bustling streets and key landmarks, including the BSNL office, Reserve Bank of India, Gauhati High Court, and Handique Girls College. The Dighalipukhuri bus stop, situated nearby, connects to several key townships, contributing to the area's vibrant atmosphere.[17]
Challenges
The University faces significant accessibility challenges for specially-abled students due to encroachments and lack of infrastructure. Illegal shops and food stalls along footpaths near the College Hostel Roads, including Lakshminath Bezbaroa Road and College Hostel Road, have forced pedestrians onto busy roads, endangering the safety of students, particularly those who are visually impaired. The Cotton University Forum for the Specially Abled has raised concerns about the absence of essential accessibility features such as railings and tactile paving on sidewalks connecting hostels to the main campus. This lack of infrastructure, combined with hazardous walkways, poses significant challenges for the over 30 specially-abled students at the university. Students residing in hostels near Dighalipukhuri, especially visually impaired women, face difficulties due to high-speed traffic and the absence of a dedicated transport service. The forum has called for the introduction of a free, permanent e-rickshaw service to ensure safe commuting and for improvements to the university's older buildings to enhance accessibility. Despite complaints to local authorities about unauthorized vendors occupying sidewalks, the issue remains unresolved, creating persistent mobility challenges for the affected students.[18]
The University, has announced the medium of examination for its Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP). As per the notification issued on March 25, 2025, the examination for major and minor courses will be conducted exclusively in English. This policy is in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and has received approval from the Vice-Chancellor of the University.[21]
The institution offers Higher Secondary (HS) courses in two streams: Science and Arts. The Science stream has four sections, each with an intake capacity of 95 students, resulting in a total of 380 seats. The Arts stream consists of one section with an intake capacity of 160 students. In total, the institution offers 475 seats for Higher Secondary (HSSLC) courses.[29]
In the Undergraduate (UG) programs, there are a total of 511 seats available for Arts subjects and 480 seats for Science subjects. Combined, the institution offers 991 seats for UG Arts and Science courses.[30]
In the Postgraduate (PG) programs, there are 690 seats available for Arts subjects and 278 seats for Science subjects. Altogether, the institution offers 968 seats for PG Arts and Science courses.[31]
Cotton University (CU) has released tentative cut-off marks for higher secondary admissions, with 87% for the science stream and 84% for the arts stream. The cut-offs may vary depending on the number of applicants. There are 180 seats in the arts stream and 320 in the science stream. Applicants must complete the application process on both the DARPAN and Cotton University websites. Admissions will be based on a merit list from the candidates' qualifying exam results, followed by counselling and seat allocation.[33]
Undergraduate Courses
Cotton University allocates 40 percent of undergraduate seats across all departments to candidates who have taken the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). The remaining 60 percent of seats will be filled based on academic performance. According to Academic Registrar Bedanta Bora, priority will be given to CUET candidates.[34]
On 8 September 2021, Cotton University (CU) launched its online UG admission portal, increasing its intake by 25% due to high pass rates in class XII boards. The additional seats are reserved for Assam state board students, and a new 10% quota has been introduced for economically weaker sections (EWS). The intake increase aims to support state board students, while admissions will be based on merit. A conflicting reservation policy, initially mandating 75% seats for state board students, was later adjusted by the education minister to exclude urban areas.[35]
Chemistry recorded the highest cut-off percentage among all BSc major courses, with the general category cut-off at 90.66%, followed by physics at 89.33% and zoology at 87.66%. The cut-off for mathematics was 87.33%, while botany had a cut-off of 85.33%.[36]
On March 12, 2025, The University announced that undergraduate admissions would now be based solely on Higher Secondary (10+2) marks, replacing the previous system that considered CUET scores for a portion of the seats. Prospective students have been advised to check the university’s official website for further details on the admission process.[37]
Postgraduate Courses
Cotton University reserves 50 percent of seats in each postgraduate course for its own graduates, based on their CGPA results, subject to certain conditions. The minimum CGPA required is 5.5 for Unreserved Category, 5.3 for Other Backward Class/MOBC, and 5.0 for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (plains/hills) at the undergraduate level. The remaining 50 percent, designated as 'Open Category' seats, are available to graduates with honors or majors in the relevant or related disciplines from recognized universities. Admission to the 'Open Category' seats will be based on performance in the Cotton PG Entrance Examination (CPGEE). In some subjects, all seats, including those reserved for CU graduates, will be filled through CPGEE. The registration fee is Rs 800 per subject. The CPGEE comprises 50 questions, with each question carrying a weight of 4 marks, resulting in a total of 200 marks. There is also a negative marking system in place, where 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer. The entrance exam lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes.[38]
Out of CPGEE's 200 marks, a maximum of 100 marks and a minimum of 50 marks are required for an Unreserved Category (UR) student to secure a seat. Admission calls are conducted in three rounds based on the availability of seats in respective categories and courses.[39]
The subject-wise previous years' question papers for the Cotton Post Graduate Entrance Exam (CPGEE) are available for review on the websites Bohikitap.in and FreshersNow.com.[40][41]
PhD Courses
The Candidates applying for the PhD program must have 55% marks (50% for SC/ST) in a Master's degree from a University Grants Commission-recognized university. Admission requires qualifying the National Eligibility Test or the university’s entrance examination, followed by a viva voce and counselling session. Selected students must complete coursework, including three 4-credit and one 2-credit courses. After passing the coursework, candidates are provisionally registered and must apply for final registration within 18–24 months. The PhD registration is valid for five years, with a possible extension of up to seven years under special circumstances.[42]
On 25 November 2024, The Cotton University PhD Researchers Association (CURSA) has raised concerns about the draft Assam College Employees Regulations, 2024, which proposes amendments to the recruitment process for teachers and staff in provincialised colleges. The draft, introduced in January 2024, suggests replacing traditional academic qualifications such as PhDs, MPhils, and research experience with a civil service-style examination conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC). CURSA has criticized the draft for overlooking the academic qualifications and research contributions of candidates, which it believes undermines the recruitment process for college educators. The association also argued that the proposed changes contradict the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes the importance of research, innovation, and academic excellence in higher education. In a statement, CURSA expressed concern that the new examination framework, which focuses on general knowledge rather than specialized academic skills, is ill-suited for hiring educators in niche academic fields. The association also noted that the proposal devalues the qualifications obtained through rigorous processes like the National Eligibility Test (NET) and State Level Eligibility Test (SLET). CURSA has called on the Assam government to engage with academic and research stakeholders to develop a recruitment policy that aligns with the objectives of NEP 2020. The association has urged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Education Minister Ranoj Pegu to address these issues and ensure that the interests of Assam’s academic community are safeguarded.[43]
Facilities
Library
The Dr. Surya Kumar Bhuyan Library of Cotton University, one of Northeast India's oldest libraries, has a rich history dating back to the institution's inception. Initially located in a spacious hall of a single-story building, the library’s evolution began in the 1907-1912 quinquennium with the appointment of its first librarian and the establishment of a faculty committee to oversee its management by 1913. As its collection grew, the library moved to a dedicated building formerly occupied by the Physics department. In 1986, it was renamed in honor of Dr. Suryya Kumar Bhuyan. The library's growth continued with the laying of the foundation stone for a new three-story building by President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma in 1992. This new facility was officially inaugurated on May 29, 2001, by former Chief Minister Sri Tarun Gogoi.[44] Today, the library boasts an extensive collection of 130,968 textbooks, 4,935 reference books, 56 theses, 6,365 donated books, 648 braille books, and 3,263 bound volumes, reflecting its long-standing commitment to knowledge and scholarship.[45]
Hostels
Cotton University is home to four boys' hostels: Rajani Kanta Bordoloi Hostel, Seeta Nath Brahma Choudhury Hostel, Mahendra Nath Deka Phukan Hostel, and Swahid Ranjit Barpuzari Hostel, collectively accommodating up to 320 students. For female students, the university offers three hostels: Nalini Bala Devi Hostel, Swahid Kanak Lata Hostel, and Dr. Kamala Roy Hostel, which together house 335 students. In total, the seven hostels provide accommodation for 655 students.[46]
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