Bihar House passes Pvt Varsities Bill

 The Nitish regime has cleared the decks for establishing private varsities with the passing of the Bihar Private University Bill, 2013, by the Legislative Assembly.

The move is aimed at preventing a large number of students from migrating to other states for pursuing higher education in various private universities across the country.
“Private universities have become a stark reality throughout the world. We will have to accept it. We cannot deny the students their right to education,” said Bihar’s Education Minister PK Shahi, while piloting the bill.

Private varsities will now be allowed to set up their campuses in Bihar for running various degree, diploma and certificate courses in regular subjects besides medical, engineering and agriculture courses approved by the AICTE, NCTE, UGC, MCI and Pharmacy Council.

Any trust or society or sponsoring body can approach the state government with a proposal to open its campus. The application will be screened by a committee of experts within a given timeframe after which the government will issue a letter of intent. The trust or society will be required to develop its campus with adequate infrastructure in five years.