Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University in Bihar’s Rajgir on Wednesday, a significant milestone in the revival of this ancient institution. The event was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and ambassadors from 17 nations, signifying the university’s global reach and commitment to academic excellence.
“It’s a very special day for our education sector. At around 10:30 AM today, the new campus of Nalanda University would be inaugurated at Rajgir. Nalanda has a strong connect with our glorious part. This university will surely go a long way in catering to the educational needs of the youth,” PM Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The new campus, a modern testament to the legacy of the original Nalanda University, stands near the ancient ruins. Established by the Nalanda University Act of 2010, implementing a decision made at the second East Asia Summit in 2007, the university has come a long way since its inception.
Founded in the fifth century, the original Nalanda University was a renowned learning center attracting international students. It flourished for 800 years before invaders destroyed it in the 12th century. The contemporary university commenced operations in 2014 at a provisional site with an initial cohort of 14 students. Construction began in 2017, leading to the magnificent campus inaugurated today.
Besides India, a total of 17 countries have signed MoUs to support the Nalanda University. These nations include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, New Zealand, Portugal, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia, Laos, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
The university offers 137 scholarships to international students and comprises six schools: the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy & Comparative Religions, Historical Studies, Ecology and Environmental Studies, and Sustainable Development and Management. International students enrolled in the Postgraduate programs for the academic years 2022-24, 2023-25, and the PhD program for 2023-27 come from a diverse array of countries, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Myanmar, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, USA, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
The campus boasts two academic blocks containing 40 classrooms, with a combined seating capacity of approximately 1,900. Two auditoriums, each accommodating 300 seats, are also on campus. The student hostel can house around 550 students.
Additionally, the campus offers various facilities, including an international centre, an amphitheatre with a capacity for 2,000 people, a faculty club, and a sports complex. The campus is a ‘Net Zero’ Green Campus, designed to be self-sustaining with solar power installations, domestic and drinking water treatment facilities, a water recycling plant for reusing wastewater, 100 acres of water bodies, and numerous other eco-friendly amenities.
The university is envisioned as a partnership between India and the East Asia Summit (EAS) countries. It holds significant historical importance, as the original Nalanda University, founded approximately 1600 years ago, is regarded as one of the world’s first residential universities.
