Dharnidhar Autonomous College, Keonjhar was also known as D.D. (Auto) College, Keonjhar which was the oldest and Premier Government Autonomous College was established on 1st June 1957 and managed by the Government of Odisha.

It is one of the premier colleges established to impart & provide in the field of higher education for the deserving candidates and prove to be a milestone in the part of progress.

It is affiliated with the North Orissa University, Baripada and it is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under section 2(f) on 1st October 1957 & 12(B) on 1st January 1999 under Act, 1956.

It is accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with "B++" Grade (CGPA Score 2.86 on a 4 Point  Scale in 2nd Cycle) on 16th December 2016.

The college aims to become a kind of its own in imparting teaching to not only tribal’s but also students who want to be blended with a rich culture of Gurukul

Initially, the college was started as Keonjhar Science College. Later It was named after Dharanidhar Bhuyan who was not only a great Tribal Leader of the time but also a fire brand crusader against corruption and injustice and became a full fledged degree college in  1957-58.

The college got a status as Autonomy was conferred on 24th September 2004 and Self-financing courses were started like Computer  Science (Hons), IMBA, MFC, MAPMIR, and PGDCA were opened.

It is a co-educational government Institute, providing a regular course which is located in an urban part of a Keonjhar played a pioneering role in the field of higher education.

The college conferred the status of grant-in-aid college that the fees and all the facilities for the students are fixed by the government. The student's admission is done as per the Admission Criteria prescribed by the North Orissa University, Baripada.

This college has conferred as the status as "College with Potential for Excellence (CPE)" and the best college by the North Orissa University, Baripada. Also numbers of an award in publication, offering scholarship also awarded by the different societies.

The college offers three years undergraduate courses in Arts, Commerce, and Science streams with various specializations and two years post graduation courses in Arts, Science, and Commerce under North Orissa University, Baripada. It also offers Diploma, Ph.D and self-financing courses for the students.

Apart from this, the college offers distance education mode program for the students which is regulating under Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi.

Vision & Mission:

• To convert the library into e-library
• The infrastructural facilities are to be expanded
• To increase the research and consultancy activities
• State/ National level seminars are to be organized more in numbers
• The updated technologies in teaching and learning are to be implemented in all departments.
• The number of ICT enabled classrooms is to be increased
• To increase employability, more stress is to be given for courses like job oriented programs such as Vocational Education, B.Ed courses, Skill based courses (Community College & Din Dayal Upadhyaya Kaushal Yojana), etc
• Extension of social and community oriented activities with involvement of faculty and students
• Academic and Professional linkage with industries are to be done
• All science department laboratories are to be upgraded
• IQAC meetings are to be organized at least four times per year
• Maximum possible stress is to be given to following the Common Minimum Standard directed by Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha
• More emphasis is to be given to make the campus eco-friendly
• More emphasis is to be given on the Self-Defence training for girls
• Focus is to be given to convert this Autonomous Institution into Unitary University