MUC campus expected by next year
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 04 2025: The Manipur University of Culture (MUC), whose administrative block is currently attached to the Art and Culture Department and which has been conducting classes on a school campus due to the lack of its own facilities, may see some sections of its dedicated campus ready by next year.

Notably, MUC became operational on September 20, 2016, following the passage of the Manipur University of Culture Bill by the State Assembly in 2015 .

Since its inception, MUC has lacked its own campus.

However, under the PM-DevINE scheme, construction of its administrative block began at Wakha in Imphal East at a project cost of over Rs 30 crore, following a work order issued on February 12, 2025.The project is scheduled to be completed by June 6, 2026.Stating that 62 per cent of the administrative block's construction is complete, the source maintained that they are working to finish the project within the estimated deadline.

The Sangai Express also contacted MUC Vice Chancellor Professor Paonam Gunindro.

He stated that the MUC has been operating without its own campus for over nine years since its inception on September 20, 2016 .

Noting that undergraduate classes were held at the Government Dance College at Palace Compound from 2016 to 2021 and subsequently at New Life Public School in Canchipur, he added that MUC now offers postgraduate courses as well.

Stating that the lack of its own campus has caused various challenges in running the university, he added that students have also staged multiple protests demanding proper infrastructure for MUC.

He said that the then Art and Culture Minister laid the foundation stone for constructing MUC at Nongmaijing Chingkhong on December 28, 2017, but the project was cancelled due to lack of clearance from the Forest Department.

Gunindro said that the Forest Department granted clearance to construct MUC at Wakha in Imphal East on a plot measuring 38.081 acres on September 18, 2024 .

There are only three cultural universities in India, he said and added that Utkal University of Culture in Odisha and Majuli University of Culture, Assam, however, have adequate campuses and infrastructure.

For MUC to join the Association of Indian Universities in New Delhi, the university must have its own building and infrastructure, he added.

The MUC VC went on to state that MUC students have performed across the country and abroad showcasing the rich art and culture of Manipur.

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