Mysore varsity presents deficit budget of ₹107.72 crore

University of Mysore faces revenue shortfall, with ₹107.72 crore deficit budget due to insufficient pension funds from government.

For the third consecutive year, the century-old University of Mysore is facing a revenue shortfall. The dwindling receipts for the year 2025-2026 have resulted in a deficit budget of ₹107.72 crore, which was presented during the Academic Council meeting here on Friday.

Against the projected revenue of ₹295.59 crore in 2025-26, the university’s expenditure for the year stands at ₹403.31 crore, causing the shortfall, according to the university.

University Finance Officer K.S. Rekha presented the budget at the Academic Council meeting, which was presided over by Vice-Chancellor N.K. Lokanath. Registrar M.K. Savitha and others were present.

One of the key reasons for the university facing a severe shortfall of revenue was deficient funds for disbursing pensions to the retired staff whose numbers are on the rise with each passing year following the retirement of teaching and non-teaching staff.

A sum of ₹169.19 crore was spent on salaries, while ₹157.54 crore is the pensionary expenditure. The revenue deficit would have been a mere ₹18 lakh had the government released ₹157.54 for pensions. However, the government released ₹50 crore for pensions, causing the deficit.

The university has around 1,822 pensioners and family pensioners. The pensioners’ number may go up to 1,881 in 2025-26 with the retirement of 21 teaching and 38 non-teaching staff. Given this, a sum of ₹157,54,42,030 has been set aside for pensions.

Various suggestions came during the discussion of the post-budget presentation, and the members suggested improving the revenue, while a few others suggested urging the government to bear the pensionary expenditure with the university unable to overcome the deficit and meet the funds.