Bihar gets two central universities

   Union Cabinet cleared the decks for setting up two Central Universities in Bihar by approving the proposal to amend the Central Universities Act.

    Union Cabinet cleared the decks for setting up two Central Universities in Bihar by approving the proposal to amend the Central Universities Act. This is only the second exception made by the Centre for setting up two central universities in a particular state, the first being Jammu and Kashmir.

     The Union Cabinet approved amending the Act after the Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry took a decision to set up a central university in Motihari in addition to the one already proposed in Gaya.

        A team of HRD official including Joint Secretary Amit Khare had visited Bihar last month to assess the prospects of a second Central University in the state. The Act had a provision for setting two central universities in Jammu and Kashmir as a special case. The government's decision for setting up a central university in Motihari had put an end a prolonged slugfest over the issue.

     The Ministry has, however, said there would be no additional allocation for Bihar and the Rs 240 crore meant for the state for the central university would now be divided among the two varsities. (Source: igovernment)