Bihar passes engineering university bill; CM, not Governor, to be chancellor

The Bihar assembly has passed a bill seeking to set up an engineering university in the state. With the passing of the Bihar Engineering University Bill, 2021, every private and government engineering college in the state will be affiliated with this new university. 

While introducing the Bill in the house, Science and Technology Minister Sumit Kumar Singh said, “Opening of an engineering university in Bihar is a historic decision taken by the state government. The idea is to provide new courses to the students of Bihar.” The Chief Minister will be the Chancellor of this university, he said.  

Traditionally, the Governor is the Chancellor of state-run universities. Opposition parties proposed an amendment to the bill saying that the Governor should be its Chancellor instead of the Chief Minister. 

Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) sought division of votes on the matter which was accepted by the Speaker. His motion was defeated by 21 votes. While a total of 89 votes went in favour of the amendment proposal, 110 members voted against the proposal. The assembly also passed the Bihar Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2021. 

33% seats in engineering, medical colleges for women 

The Bihar Chief Minister had in June ordered the officials of the science and technology and the health and medical education departments to take necessary steps to reserve minimum 33.3 per cent seats for girls at the time of admission in all engineering and medical colleges. 

“Our main aim is that the boys and girls of Bihar would not have to go outside the state to pursue the study of engineering and medical courses,” Nitish had said at a meeting. 

Read more:

• Top Engineering Colleges in Bihar
• Top Engineering Colleges in Patna