Dr. Kanailal Bhattacharya College, Howrah was established in 1985. It has been reaccredited by NAAC. The college was granted affiliation by the University of Calcutta & the State Government.

The college has a vocational centre, affiliated to West Bengal State Council of Vocational Education & Training. The consistent good result of the college, coupled with the fact that there was not many degree colleges in a vast surrounding locality, saw a recurrent rise in the number of the students.

It had been a long cherished dream of the people of Santragachi to have a degree College in their locality. The dream gradually turned into a reality when Late Sudhir Kumar Ghosh decided to donate his land and the building situated at Dharmatala in Ramrajatala. After that with the initiative of the then local MLA Sri Satyen Ghosh and some important persons of the area, a trustee was formed before setting up the College on 26^th November, 1984. On 10^th March, 1985 in a public meeting presided over by Late. Raghudas Baul and attended by Late Sudhir Kumar Ghosh, the College was named after the leading educationist, respected public leader and ex-minister of Industry and Commerce (Govt. of W.B.), Late Professor Dr. Kanailal Bhattacharyya. A nine-member committee was set up with the then District Magistrate of Howrah Sri Sumanata Chowdhury as the President. On 22^nd September 1985, the College was officially inaugurated by Late Professor Sambhu Ghosh, the then Hon'ble Minister of Higher Education of Govt. of West Bengal. On 20^th January 1988, Sri Nripendranath Bhattacharyya joined as the first Principal.

Charity show by Mrs. Mamata Shankar and her ballet troupe, State Government permitted lottery, donation of Rs. 2 Lakhs from the magazine “Dakshini Barta” with the personal initiative of the then local M.P. Sri Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and personal donation of Rs.

1 Lakh by Sri Debkumar Chowdhury set the pace for development of the College. Late Sailendranath Das, Sri BImal Kumar Das, Sri Sansanka Kumar Das, Sri Arun Kumar Das of Ramrajatala, Kona Road donated a plot of land measuring nearly 18 Kothas for infrastructure. Various Grants from UGC, MPLAD schemes and  from Government of West Bengal have also contributed to give the College its present shape as one of the leading institutions in Howrah district.