Centre Pushes Forward Vikramshila University Project in Bhagalpur After Years of Delay

Education Minister reviews progress, land acquisition underway for new Central university near ancient site

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently held a high-level meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Education to review the progress of Vikramshila University, a Central university being established in Bhagalpur, Bihar. The project, long in the pipeline, is now gathering momentum with land acquisition underway and a detailed project report (DPR) in preparation.

In a tweet following the meeting, Pradhan reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to reviving the legacy of Vikramshila, once a globally renowned seat of learning. “Rooted yet futuristic, Vikramshila University in Bhagalpur will be a modern temple of education, research and innovation… We are working on mission-mode to take forward PM Modi’s vision of rekindling the intellectual heritage of Vikramshila,” he posted.

Founded during the Pala dynasty by King Dharmapala in the 8th–9th century CE, Vikramshila was a prominent centre for Tantrayana Buddhism and rivalled Nalanda in scholastic stature. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a visit to Bhagalpur on February 24, reiterated the government’s plan to establish a Central university to restore Vikramshila’s historical significance. “After Nalanda, it is the turn of Vikramshila,” he had said.

Although the project was approved in 2015 with an initial allocation of ₹500 crore, it had seen little progress due to delays in land identification. The Bihar government has now identified 205.49 acres of land at Malakpur and Antichak villages in Kahalgaon, close to the ruins of the ancient university. However, around 177 acres still need to be acquired from local landowners.

The School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi — under the Ministry of Education — along with Bhagalpur district officials, visited the site in October last year for planning and spot verification. The SPA team is now working on the DPR. Bhagalpur District Magistrate Nawal Kishore Choudhary confirmed that officials also visited the excavation site, museum, main stupa, and relics discovered in the area.

Meanwhile, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been developing the site since December to boost tourism and preserve the remains of the Vikramshila Mahavihara, including the cruciform stupa and 208 monk cells — architectural remnants of one of India’s greatest ancient universities.

As preparations for the university’s construction continue, the Centre and the state government are aiming to transform Vikramshila into a world-class institution guided by the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP), echoing India’s ancient glory in a modern educational framework.

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