Soban Singh Jeena University (hereafter referred to as SSJ University), Almora, a residential cum affiliating University, came into existence on 14 August, 2020,vide notification No. 168/XXXVI(3)/2020/77/2019 dated June 22, 2020 under the Uttarakhand Act No. 19 of 2020,as a result of persistent demands from the residents of the interior regions for a separate University. It was carved out of Kumaun University, Nainital of which it had been a campus for more than four decades, with colleges of districts Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat and Pithoragarh falling under its jurisdiction. It has been named after renowned lawyer turned political leader and social reformer of the region, Sri Soban Singh Jeena.
Kumaun University, a residential-cum-affliating university, came into existence in the year 1973 by notification No. (10)/8651/15/75(85)/64 dated 23 November, 1973 under the Act No. 10 of State Legislature (U.P. State Universities Act, 1973 now adopted by Uttarakhand State) with the merger of two Government Colleges, D.S.B. Government P.G.College, Nainital and Almora Government P.G. College, Almora. These Constituent Colleges were later elevated to the status of University Campuses by Government order No. E-1861/GS dated 14/15 March, 1994.