Two New Universities to Open in Bihar; Approvals Granted for Begusarai and Patna

The Bihar government has approved proposals to establish the Ramdhari Singh Dinkar University in Begusarai and the Maa Sita Mahila University in Patna. Both proposals received the green light during a cabinet meeting.

The path is now clear for the establishment of two new universities in Bihar. The state government has approved proposals to set up the Ramdhari Singh Dinkar University in Begusarai and the Maa Sita Mahila University in Patna. These proposals, submitted by the Education Department, were ratified during a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, presided over by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. Both universities will be established under the Bihar Specialized Universities Act, 2026. The government has also granted administrative approval of ₹15 crore each for the establishment and initial administrative expenses of both universities; this amount will cover salaries for officers and staff, as well as other essential costs.

The Ramdhari Singh Dinkar University in Begusarai is named after the renowned litterateur Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. Its jurisdiction will encompass all affiliated and constituent colleges in the Begusarai and Khagaria districts. However, constituent and affiliated colleges currently linked to Kameshwar Singh Sanskrit University, Darbhanga, will not fall under its jurisdiction. The decision to establish Dinkar University was taken in Begusarai on the occasion of the poet’s birth anniversary; Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary had announced the university’s creation during that event.

First Women-Dedicated University in Patna

The Maa Sita Mahila University will be established in Patna. It is being set up as the state’s first university dedicated exclusively to women. Its jurisdiction will extend to all women’s constituent and affiliated colleges within the Patna district. However, women’s colleges currently affiliated with Patna University will not come under the jurisdiction of Maa Sita Mahila University. The new university aims to expand higher education opportunities for female students in Patna. The government has also granted administrative approval of ₹15 crore for its operations.

Cabinet Approves Several Other Proposals

In addition to education-related matters, the Bihar cabinet approved a total of 14 proposals concerning various departments, including police, health, dairy, and water resources. Approval has been granted to purchase 50 drones at a cost of ₹24.50 crore under the police modernization scheme. These will be utilized for tasks such as crowd control, anti-crime drives, operations in riverine areas, missions in Maoist-affected zones, and disaster management. Additionally, approval has been given to procure equipment for the security of the district police, railway police, Bihar Special Armed Police, the Prohibition and State Narcotics Control Bureau, and the ‘Lok Bhawan’ (state secretariat building).

Salary Hike for Office-Bearers of Boards and Corporations

The Cabinet has also approved a proposal to increase the salaries and allowances of office-bearers—including chairpersons and vice-chairpersons—of various boards, corporations, and councils who hold the rank of Cabinet Minister, Minister of State, or Deputy Minister. Their monthly salary has been raised from ₹25,000 to ₹65,000, while the daily allowance has been increased from ₹1,000 to ₹3,500. The hospitality allowance for office-bearers holding ministerial rank has also been enhanced.