Prof. Debabrata Das formally assumed charge as the 11th Vice-Chancellor of Tripura University in Agartala on 8 July 2025, ending a vacancy that had persisted for nearly a year at the Central university. His appointment was cleared by the Higher Education Department under the Union Ministry of Education on 3 July 2025.

The Handover Ceremony

Outgoing Officiating Vice-Chancellor Prof. Shyamal Das formally handed charge to Prof. Debabrata Das at a simple ceremony held on the university campus. Registrar Sameer Kumar Seal, Finance Officer Debashish Pal, and other senior administrative officials were present at the event. Later in the afternoon, Prof. Das convened a meeting with heads of academic departments, deans, senior faculty, and administrative staff at the university's Council Hall to chart priorities for the institution's development.

What the New VC Said

Addressing the gathering after assuming office, Prof. Das said his foremost objective would be to uphold and further strengthen the academic reputation and legacy of Tripura University. He noted that the hopes and aspirations of the people of Tripura are closely associated with the institution and assured that all possible steps would be taken to fulfil them — particularly in higher education.

Prof. Das added that initiatives would be undertaken to improve the quality of teaching, learning, and research. He underscored that developing students' skills and enhancing their employability would remain a central focus, alongside strengthening research output and fostering innovation to lift the university's national standing.

Prof. Das's Academic and Administrative Background

Prof. Das brings extensive cross-institutional experience to the role. He most recently served as an Advisor to the Higher Education Department of the Assam government. Prior to that, he was Vice-Chancellor of the Assam Rajiv Gandhi University of Cooperative Management in Sivasagar, and a Whole-Time Member of the Arunachal Pradesh Private Educational Institution Regulatory Commission in Itanagar.

He previously held a professorial position in the Department of Business Administration at Tezpur University in Assam. He has also completed the prestigious Senior Academic Leadership Programme at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, under the Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP) of the then Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

The Vacancy and Tripura University's Significance

The post of a regular Vice-Chancellor had remained vacant since 21 August 2024, when the tenure of the previous Vice-Chancellor, Prof. G.P. Prasain, concluded. For nearly a year, Prof. Shyamal Das, the university's senior-most professor, oversaw academic and administrative affairs in an officiating capacity.

Tripura University was established by the state government on 2 October 1987 and was upgraded to a Central University on 2 July 2007 under the Tripura University Act, 2006, enacted by Parliament. The university currently has 68 affiliated colleges and educational institutions across the state, making it Tripura's premier institution for higher education and research. With a full-time Vice-Chancellor now at the helm, the university is expected to accelerate its academic and institutional agenda.