UNIFEST 2025-26

Fakir Mohan University is proud to host the AIU’s 39th Inter-University East Zone Youth Festival (UNIFEST) 2025-26, a flagship cultural initiative of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Scheduled from 27-31 January 2026, this prestigious festival will bring together hundreds of young, talented students from universities across the East Zone, creating a vibrant platform for creativity, cultural diversity, and youth leadership. UNIFEST stands as one of India’s most celebrated university-level festivals, designed to nurture artistic expression, encourage healthy competition, and promote national integration through culture. The 2025-26 edition hosted by Fakir Mohan University promises to uphold this legacy, offering an enriching blend of dance, music, theatre, fine arts, literary competitions, and creative arts. Students will have the opportunity to showcase their skills in events such as classical and folk dance, vocal and instrumental music, mime, skit, one-act play, painting, poster-making, photography, debate, elocution, and many more. This festival will also highlight the unique heritage, values, and cultural richness of Odisha—home to Fakir Mohan University. Through its hospitality, thematic presentations, and campus vibrancy, the university aims to provide participants an immersive and memorable experience that reflects both academic enthusiasm and cultural pride. Beyond competition, the Youth Festival serves as a meeting ground for young minds to exchange ideas, build friendships, and celebrate the spirit of unity in diversity. Workshops, informal interactions, and cultural evenings will further enhance the festive atmosphere, ensuring that each day of UNIFEST is filled with learning, joy, and inspiration. As Fakir Mohan University prepares to welcome students, faculty members, officials, and distinguished guests from across the region, it looks forward to hosting an event marked by excellence, inclusivity, and youthful energy. The AIU’s 39th Inter-University East Zone Youth Festival 2025-26 will not only celebrate talent but also reaffirm the power of youth as catalysts for creativity, harmony, and national progress.

FMU), located in the culturally rich and educationally vibrant district of Balasore, Odisha, is a prominent state university committed to fostering academic excellence, research innovation, and holistic development. Established by the Government of Odisha, the university is named in honor of Fakir Mohan Senapati, the legendary father of modern Odia literature, embodying his spirit of intellectual advancement, cultural pride, and social reform. The university operates from two campuses—Nuapadhi and Janauganj—designed to support a wide spectrum of academic, research, and extracurricular activities. With a growing reputation for quality education, FMU offers a diverse range of Postgraduate, M.Phil., and Ph.D. programmes across disciplines such as Social Sciences, Humanities, Science, Business Studies, Biotechnology, Law, and more. Its academic structure emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and innovation, preparing students to meet emerging global challenges. Committed to research excellence, Fakir Mohan University houses several specialized laboratories, research centres, and digital learning facilities. The university actively encourages faculty and scholars to engage in impactful research, publications, and collaborative projects with national and international institutions. In recent years, FMU has strengthened its focus on community engagement, environmental sustainability, and rural outreach initiatives, aligning academic growth with social responsibility. FMU places strong emphasis on student development beyond the classroom. The university hosts numerous cultural, literary, and sports activities, creating a vibrant campus environment that nurtures talent and leadership. Its commitment to youth empowerment is reflected in its regular participation in inter-university events and its dedication to preserving and promoting Odisha’s cultural heritage. Balasore, known for its historic significance, scientific institutions, and coastal beauty, further enriches the educational experience at Fakir Mohan University. The peaceful surroundings, coupled with an academically stimulating atmosphere, make FMU an ideal destination for higher learning. Today, Fakir Mohan University continues to grow as a centre of knowledge, innovation, and cultural enrichment. Upholding the vision of Fakir Mohan Senapati, the university strives to shape responsible citizens and future leaders while contributing meaningfully to the educational landscape of Odisha and the nation.

The Association of Indian Universities is an Apex Advisory Body on Higher Education mandated by the Ministry of Education to determine the equivalence of foreign degrees and conduct Youth Affairs & Sports Activities in the Higher Education Sector in India. At present, AIU has about 1111 member Universities (Central, Institutes of National Importance, State, and Private Universities), including 18 overseas Universities, and is serving the Higher Education Sector for the last 100 years. Many national luminaries have served this organization in different capacities, and the most prominent examples are Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Dr. Zakir Hussain, and Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, who have served as Presidents of AIU. The organization has worked as an intellectual resource of the country and has contributed to the policy processes of the government and its agencies. AIU has been annually organizing the Inter University Youth Festivals (UNIFESTS) since 1985 at the Zonal and National levels, where a large number of youth artistes from member Universities and its about 45,000 affiliated colleges participate. These festivals play a significant role in promoting in our youth a pride in Indian culture and an awareness of youth identity. AIU is the only nodal agency in the entire country for organizing the Inter University Youth Programs for about 40 million youth students of the Higher Education Sector in India. Also, this is the only establishment where the above-cited youth programs can be conceptualized and implemented for the students at the Zonal, National as well as International levels. In continuation of our endeavours and in addition to the above-mentioned youth festivals, the AIU has launched the organization of the Asian University Youth Festival (AUFEST), International Youth Festival, National Women Student Parliament, National Moot Court Competition, and National Qawwali Competition, etc. From the last session, AIU has earmarked the entire country into eight zones for the smooth conduct of Youth Affairs Programs.