The University was established as per the provision of the Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University Act, 2005 that was enacted in Assam Legislative Assembly, notified in the Assam Gazette(extraordinary) and published on September 29, 2005. The University started its operation from December 11, 2006 with Professor Srinath Baruah joining the University as its first Vice-Chancellor.

The University is empowered by virtue of the Act to prepare its own curriculum, formulate its own system of examination, enrollearners, conduct examinations and confer Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates up to the Graduate and Post-graduate levels.

The University is recognised and all the courses it offers are approved by the Distance Education Bureau(DEB), UGC, New Delhi. The Government of Assam recognises all the Degree, Diploma and Certificate programmes offered by the University for the purpose of government jobs and pursuing higher studies.

Recognition letters of offer ODL programmes issued by DEB and UGC (Year wise)