Pandit Gangadhar Shastri, a noted Sanskrit scholar, founded the college in 1823, long before the first university in India was established in 1857.

The college offers both graduate and postgraduate degrees in the following subjects: Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Philosophy, Political Science, History, Economics, Psychology, Military Studies, Geography, Law, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, Zoology, and Botany.

It also offers a one-year diploma in both Mass Communication and Journalism, a degree course in Commerce, B.Ed., BCA, MCA, and Biotechnology under a self-financed scheme.

[clarification needed] The majority of faculty members have doctorates in their respective fields, and the college has a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:25.

The campus has an area of 66.5 acres (26.9 ha) and includes various departments, residential quarters, and a sports complex.

The UGC-funded Network Resource Center houses nine computers with broadband internet connectivity but is insufficient for the use of all students and teachers.

The college has a health center with a part-time doctor and a compounder, who provide basic medical care to students.

The college campus has a branch of Canara Bank which collects fees and maintains the accounts of staff members.

The latest editions of some textbooks, reference books, and journals are kept in some departments for the convenience of the staff and students.

The library has a spacious reading hall, stack rooms, and a reference section for postgraduate students.

The Library can also subscribe to INFLIBNET of the UGC for making online journals available to the staff and students.

College athletes in various sports have good track records at state and national events.