Nalanda University Board to be set up in New Delhi soon

Patna, Aug 16 (UNI) The Bihar government has decided to set up the nodal office and the University Board in New Delhi for the proposed Nalanda International University.

The decision to this effect was taken by the Bihar cabinet at its last meeting held on Tuesday under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Mr Kumar is taking active initiative to set up the Nalanda International University near the site of the ancient global centre of education in the same name.

The meeting also decided that the required fund for establishment of the new Board and the office would be generated from its own resources, official sources here said.

The Board would work as the nodal agency for setting up the new university at an early date.

Incidentally, former President A P J Abdul Kalam was requested by the Chief Minister to take over the post of ''Visitor'' of the proposed university to which Dr Kalam had agreed providing the much-needed boost to the state government's effort for setting up of a world class university.

In fact Dr Kalam first visualised the possibility of establishing a world class university at Nalanda in line with the past glory and grandeur of the ancient centre of learning in Central Bihar.

Accordingly, earlier this year the Bihar legislature had unanimously passed the 'University of Nalanda Act' and set up an 8-member 'Nalanda Mentor Group' under the chairmanship of Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen.

The Mentor Group comprising noted educationists from world's leading universities held its first meeting in Singapore last month to chalk out its courses of studies combining the old values with modern scientific advancement of the world in different fields including computer science, aeronautical and marine engineering.

UNI