Shri Shikshayatan College was founded on 8th July, 1955 for girls under affiliation to the University of Calcutta. Established by the Marwaris, a linguistic minority, it is administered and managed by the Marwari Balika Vidyalaya Society (registered under the Societies Registration Act) which runs it solely for educational and not for commercial purposes.

As a linguistic minority, it enjoys protection under Article 30(1) of the Constitution of India. Originally meant for imparting and promoting education among the girls of the Marwari community, it has over the years, opened its doors, in response to pressures for admission, to all eligible girl students irrespective of caste, creed, religion or language. The medium of instruction is English.