Bihar Government Allocates Rs 200 Crore for University Upgrades in 2026-27 Budget
Finance Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, presenting the Bihar budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year in the state assembly on Tuesday, outlined significant investments in higher education. The government has earmarked substantial funds to transform two existing universities into model institutions, aiming to elevate the quality of education in the state.
Patna University and LNMU Darbhanga Selected for Major Development
In his budget speech, Yadav revealed that Patna University in Patna and Lalit Narayan Mishra University (LNMU) in Darbhanga have been chosen for comprehensive development. A sum of Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned for each university to initiate the upgradation process, totaling Rs 200 crore. This initiative is part of broader efforts to modernize Bihar's higher education infrastructure.
Additionally, work is underway for the modernization and conservation of the Mithila Shodh Sansthan in Darbhanga, further enhancing the region's academic resources.
New Higher Education Department and Financial Support Schemes
To improve governance and quality in the higher education sector, the government has recently constituted a separate higher education department by bifurcating it from the education department. This structural change is expected to streamline operations and focus specifically on tertiary education challenges.
In a move to facilitate access to higher education for economically disadvantaged students, the government has introduced interest-free education loans up to a maximum limit of Rs 4 lakh. This scheme has already attracted numerous students towards pursuing higher education.
Yadav disclosed that Rs 1,812 crore was allotted in the 2025-26 fiscal for loan disbursement among 52,616 selected candidates. Of this amount, loans worth Rs 1,002 crore have already been disbursed to the beneficiaries, demonstrating the programme's active implementation.
Saat Nischay-3 Programme: Expanding Educational Infrastructure
The budget speech highlighted the government's commitment under the Saat Nischay-3 programme, adopted for the 2025-30 period, to enhance educational facilities across Bihar. Key initiatives include:
- Opening an Adarsh Vidyalaya (model school) in each of the 534 blocks to provide quality school education.
- Establishing a degree college in every block to increase higher education accessibility.
- Developing old and reputed educational institutions as centres of excellence to foster academic leadership.
- Creating an education city in the state to centralize and modernize educational resources.
PM SHRI Schools and Model School Development
At the school education level, 838 schools have been selected under the PM SHRI Schools scheme. This includes 47 middle schools (Classes six to eight) and 789 higher secondary schools. The infrastructure of these schools will be upgraded with modern equipment to enable:
- Smart classrooms for interactive learning.
- Drone training programmes to introduce students to emerging technologies.
- Language laboratories to enhance linguistic skills.
Furthermore, one higher secondary school in each district, along with 47 others—totaling 85 schools—will be developed as model schools, setting benchmarks for educational quality and facilities.
These comprehensive measures reflect the Bihar government's focused approach to revitalizing the education sector, from primary to higher education levels, through strategic investments and policy reforms.
