**Policy Summary: Establishment of IISER Centre in Bihar**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Education's response to a parliamentary question regarding the establishment of an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) centre in the state of Bihar. The Ministry states that while there are no current plans to establish a new IISER in Bihar, the government is committed to strengthening existing institutions nationwide, aligning them with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes multidisciplinary and holistic education.
The response highlights the existing network of higher education institutions under the Ministry of Education, including 7 IISERs, 23 IITs, 25 IIITs, 32 NITs, 48 Central Universities (CUs), and 21 IIMs, emphasizing that admission to these institutions is based on national-level exams accessible to students from all parts of the country, including Bihar. Furthermore, NIT Patna reserves 50% of its seats under a domicile quota for students from Bihar.
Currently, Bihar hosts IIT Patna, IIIT Bhagalpur, IIM Bodh Gaya, NIT Patna, and two Central Universities. The Budget Speech 2025-26 included a proposal for infrastructure expansion at IIT Patna, with the government approving Rs. 644.54 crores under a Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) loan for the development of residential facilities, academic blocks, workshops, and a Research Park.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy NEP 2020: A national policy document that envisions multidisciplinary and holistic education across sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities.
Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research IISERs: A group of science and research institutes in India. The document mentions a question regarding setting up an IISER center in Bihar.
Bihar: A state in India, focus of the question in the policy document regarding educational opportunities.
Indian Institute of Technology IITs: A group of technology institutes in India, with one located in Patna, Bihar (IIT Patna).
Indian Institute of Information Technology IIITs: A group of information technology institutes in India, with one located in Bhagalpur, Bihar (IIIT Bhagalpur).
National Institute of Technology NITs: A group of technology institutes in India, with one located in Patna, Bihar (NIT Patna).
Central Universities CUs: A group of central universities in India, with two located in Bihar, including Mahatma Gandhi Central University.
Indian Institute of Management IIMs: A group of management institutes in India, with one located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar (IIM Bodh Gaya).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1371
ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
IISER Centre
†1371. Shri Ramprit Mandal:
Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has any plans to set up Indian Institute of Science Education and
Research (IISER) Centre in the State of Bihar;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether students belonging to Bihar are facing with a lot of problems due to getting
admission in other States; and
(d) if so, the details thereof ?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (d): The Government is committed to strengthening and expanding existing institutions and
aligning them with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which envisions multidisciplinary
and holistic education across sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities. The policy
emphasizes moving towards multidisciplinary academic institutions to enable high-quality
interdisciplinary teaching and research across all fields.
Currently, under Ministry of Education, there are 7 Indian Institutes of Science Education
and Research (IISERs), 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), 25 Indian Institutes of
Information Technology (IIITs), 32 National Institutes of Technology (NITs), 48 Central
Universities (CUs) and 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in the country. The admission
to each of these institutions is through a national level exam, which is conducted in different
cities spread across the country. Therefore, students from any part of the country, including those
belonging to Bihar, can take admissions to any of these institutions depending on their
preference, ranking in the respective exam and the seat availability. Besides, NIT Patna has a
domicile quota wherein 50% seats are reserved for the students from Bihar.
At present, Bihar has one Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Patna), one Indian Institute
of Information Technology (IIIT Bhagalpur), one Indian Institute of Management (IIM Bodh
Gaya), one National Institute of Technology (NIT Patna) and two Central Universities (CU of
Bihar, Mahatma Gandhi Central University). It is noteworthy that in the Budget Speech 2025-26,
a proposal for expansion of hostel and other infrastructure capacity at IIT Patna was also
announced. Accordingly, Rs.644.54 crores have been approved by the Government under Higher
Education Financing Agency (HEFA) loan to IIT Patna for the development of residential
facilities for students, faculty and staff, construction of academic block/tutorial building,
workshops, Research Park.
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