After spending years in serious financial doldrums, the University of Madras (UoM) has made “considerable progress towards financial stability” and had been meeting salary and pension payments from its own revenue, according to Rita John, Registrar.

“From April 2026 onwards, the University has been meeting its salary and pension obligations through its own revenue and has set aside funds to meet the expenses till December. Furthermore, based on our anticipated revenue, expenditure projections, and strategic financial planning, we are working towards sustaining these commitments through our resources until March 2027,” Dr. Rita said at UoM Legacy 170, the initiation ceremony of the University’s 170^th year celebrations.

The University, she said, has worked itself out from a tight financial situation and has managed to finish printing 5.5 lakh certificates to clear all the backlogs over the past years. It has managed to enrol full strength in Mathematics and Physics departments this year, she said.

Also, the Ramanujam Institute of Advanced Study in Mathematics is all set to get a new building soon with four of its alumni coming forward to fund the rebuild. An MoU will be signed with the alumni members soon and the foundation stone will be laid before the start of construction. This year also happens to be the 100^th year of the establishment of the Institute.

Dr. Rita said that during the 170^th year celebrations, the university seeks to strengthen its bond with the alumni and will be reaching out to them pro-actively. She also sought ₹100 crore from the government to renovate the Senate House.

Dheeraj Kumar, Higher Education Secretary, said that UoM was the “mother of all universities of South India” and had organic linkages with most of them. It boasts of six Presidents of the country and two Nobel laureates as its alumni.