Bihar Proposes to Transfer UG Colleges from Governor to New Education Department

The Bihar government is preparing to introduce a draft legislation in the upcoming Monsoon session of the state assembly that would restructure the governance of undergraduate colleges. Under the proposed law, more than 500 constituent colleges offering undergraduate degrees would be removed from the authority of the Governor, who currently serves as the Chancellor of all state universities, and placed directly under a newly created higher education department.

If enacted, the Governor would retain control only over postgraduate courses. The move marks a significant shift in the administrative framework of higher education in Bihar, which has seen frequent tensions between the state government and Raj Bhavan over university appointments and policies.

Raj Bhavan has not yet publicly opposed the state government’s proposal. On July 12, Governor Syed Ata Hasnain spoke at an event and confirmed that a new education bill would be introduced in the upcoming assembly session. A press statement issued by Raj Bhavan the same day quoted the Governor as saying, “Serious efforts are being made to make the higher education system in the state more effective and quality-oriented.” The statement added, “The creation of any important law is the result of extensive study, deep deliberation, and continuous hard work.”

The draft legislation is expected to be tabled in the Monsoon session, which typically begins in July or August. The move is part of the state government’s broader attempt to streamline higher education administration and improve accountability at the undergraduate level.