Bihar’s Higher Education Department has shortlisted 54 colleges and institutions across the state for development as Centres of Excellence under the Nitish Kumar government’s Saat Nischay-3 programme. The initiative is aimed at improving higher education standards, building subject-specific expert centres and reducing the need for students to leave the state for quality courses.
Objective of the Initiative
The plan seeks to upgrade selected reputed colleges into specialised centres in one subject each. This is intended to improve academic quality, strengthen teaching standards and create better higher education options within Bihar. The department has said the model will help institutions develop focused expertise rather than remain general colleges.
Phased Implementation Plan
- The first phase has been targeted for 2026–27.
- Plans and roadmaps are being prepared for 31 institutions.
- The process for their development will begin in the coming weeks.
- The second phase will run from 2027 to 2030.
- More colleges from additional districts will be included in that phase.
Institutions and Coverage
The selected institutions include leading colleges under Patna University such as Patna Women’s College, Patna Science College, Patna College, Magadh Mahila College and the College of Arts and Crafts. Colleges affiliated to Pataliputra University, Magadh University, Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Veer Kunwar Singh University, B N Mandal University, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Jai Prakash University, Munger University, Purnea University and Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University are also part of the list. The coverage spans districts including Gaya, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Purnea and West Champaran.
Funding and Wider Higher Education Plan
For the annual scheme 2026–27, an outlay of Rs 320 crore has been earmarked. The department is also reviewing academic activities across higher education institutions and plans to establish degree colleges in blocks that currently do not have such institutions. It is also considering integration of the state’s linguistic academies to improve their effectiveness.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026