PM Narendra Modi announced that the top ten private and government universities in the country would be converted into “world class” educational institutions.
PATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Patna University should compete among the 10 best public universities of the country to get a grant of ₹ 10,000 crore from the central government and become a fully autonomous institution.
Patna University, was once known as the “Oxford of The East”.Patna University, the first university in Bihar, was established in 1 October 1917 during the British Raj, and is the seventh oldest university of the Indian subcontinent.
Addressing a function on the centenary celebrations of the Patna University, he said measures like grant of central status were “a thing of the past” and his government has taken “a step forward” towards making 10 private universities and 10 government ones world class.
Sharing the stage with Nitish for the first time after forming the coalition government in Bihar, PM Modi addressed students at the centenary celebrations of the university.
Addressing the gathering of students, former students, staff and teachers, the Prime Minister also laid emphasis on prioritising “innovation” in universities for the country’s development.
“I appeal to the Patna University to be innovative for the problems of your surrounding and compete for start-ups…India has no dearth of talent as it has vast lot of young people”, he said.
The universities will not be selected by the prime minister or a chief minister or any other political figure, he said, adding their potential will be assessed by a professional, third party agency.
BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha; former Union Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad were conspicuously absent from the function.
Union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Ram Vilas Paswan, Ashwini Chaubey and Upendra Kushwaha were among those present during the event.
