It was the ardent zeal for advancement of higher education that prompted the people of South Bankura to establish Khatra College (H.S. Unit) in 1976. The University of Burdwan has granted affiliation to Degree College known as " Khatra Adibasi Mahavidyalaya " in 1979 to introduce in its premises two courses, Arts and Commerce (General). The college was inaugurated by the Honourable Chief Minister, Govt. of West Bengal, Sri Jyoti Basu on November 18, 1979. With this august inauguration, a new era had its beginning in the sphere of higher education in this educationally backward belt. The transformation of this college from Khatra College (H.S. Unit) to "Khatra Adibasi Mahavidyalaya" has a glorious history of its own and inclusion of the term "Adibasi" is just - the mark of a sincere tribute to heroic rebellion of the tribals of this belt against British Rulers some 125 years before . The long drawn struggle has gone down in history as a great event, widely known as the "Santal Vidroha" . The institution is committed to instilling into the mindsets of the students the sense of freedom from all prejudices and insist of enhancing human values with utmost care and attention.
Far away from din and bustle of the town and situated in the natural setting surrounded by trees of various species, the campus provides a harmonious atmosphere for academic per suits. The college is about 3 Kilometers away from the Sub-Divisional town of Khatra and located beside the Bankura – Jhilimili highway. It is under the Baragarh Mouza of the Super Gram Panchayet.
As a co-educational institution, Khatra College (H.S. Unit) started its onward journey with the Higher Secondary section and later on with all non-teaching staff, movable and non-movable assets have been merged with this institution being rename “Khatra Adibasi Mahavidyalaya”.
The establishment of this Degree College has witnessed years relentless efforts. It is true that donation of people from all walks of life either in the form of case or kind paved the way for its establishment. Donation of plots of land by some benevolent families of Supur, Maklara and Kandnasole Mouza of Khatra which deserve special mention. For this the college has now more than 25 acres of land. Donation f a big tank named as “Biswas Pukur” by Raja Bahadur of Khatra for cultivation of fish is a noble gesture and worthy of record.
Since inception of the institution, the college authority has been able to enhance the infrastructure in order to accommodate increasing number of students. With the gradual extension of infra structural capacity, new subjects, carrier oriented courses, honours courses and streams are being introduced in a phased manner. In consonance with this progress. Degree Science Coursed (General) had been inaugurated by Sri Partha De, The then Honourable Minister of Secondary Education, Govt. of W.B.. The college has opened Remedial Course & special coaching to entry to services for SC, ST & OBC communities with the financial assistance of UGC from the year 2010. At present our college has fifteen different subjects alongwith honours and pass subjects.