Malda College, named after Basanti Devi, was the first Government sponsored college for women in Malda to be founded by the Government of West Bengal in 1959. An eminent freedom fighter, Basanti Devi, wife of Sri Chittaranjan Das, was the first Indian lady to be imprisoned under British Rule for her involvement in the Indian freedom struggle. Malda College, a Govt. sponsored, NAAC accredited academic institution, is perfectly poised between seven decades of glorious tradition behind and new horizons of challenges and achievements ahead. Conventional curriculum in different streams of learning are supplemented of the contemporary job oriented courses. Mission of widening the reach of learning in a backward locality and adventure of facing challenges are the mottos of Malda College.

Malda College, one of the biggest educational institutions of the state at present, started its journey on the 23rd July, 1944.
At present, the College offers courses in three streams, Science, Arts and Commerce both General & Honors in all 16 Departments at the UG level with accommodating more than six thousand students.

The College offers Post Graduate courses in three subjects – History, English since 2003 and Bengali since 2014. The library of the College, with a stock of more than thirty thousand books, is one of the best of its kind. The Science departments are well – equipped with laboratories enriched by necessary modern gadgets such as Computers, LCD, Film – Projector, V.C.R. etc. The college has a specious play ground that serves the purpose of holding tournaments, sports-meets and cultural function. A number of gardens and orchards of different types within the campus adds to the science beauty of the place and offers an ideal academic atmosphere.