University of Mysore struggles to pay pensions amid fund shortfall

The century-old University of Mysore is facing a crisis in pension payments with the decline in resources and no aid from the State government.

The university has been paying pensions amounting to ₹9.5 crore monthly to about 1,977 pensioners. It has been facing challenges in the payment of pensions for many months and has approached the government to fully bear the this expenditure.

The issue came up for discussion at the academic council meeting at Crawford Hall here on Wednesday. Vice-chancellor N.K. Lokanath presided over the meeting which was attended by senior officials from the university and members of the council.

When Vivekananda, MLC, sought to know about the delayed pension payments, the vice-chancellor said that the university is facing a severe shortfall of revenue and added that it has approached the government for aid.

However, the government has not been bearing the expenditure, and the university, with great difficulty, was continuing to pay pensions from its available funds, Mr. Vivekananda said. “This cannot be continued for long with dwindling resources,” he added.

The MLC said that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister and the Minister for Higher Education and seek aid for the university, whose jurisdictional power has come down with the establishment of new universities in districts.

An official said that it has become extremely difficult for the university to pay pensions with a funds deficit and having the responsibility of meeting various other expenditures.

This is the third consecutive year that the university is facing a revenue shortfall. The dwindling receipts for the year 2025-2026 have resulted in a deficit budget of ₹107.72 crore. 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.

One of the key reasons for the university facing a severe shortfall of revenue was the deficit of funds for disbursement of pensions to the retired staff whose numbers are on the rise with each passing year. A sum of ₹169.19 crore is spent on salaries, while ₹157.54 crore is the pensionary expenditure. The government has so far allocated ₹50 crore for pension payment.

Therefore, the university has been urging the government to bear the pensionary expenditure as it was unable to overcome the deficit and meet the funds. “It will be very difficult for the university to pay pensions in the coming months due to a shortfall of revenue,” the vice-chancellor said.