Prime Minister inaugurates Nalanda University Campus in Rajgir | Things to know about the campus

PTC News Desk: The new Nalanda University campus was officially opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.

This is the first formal visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state after he was sworn in for a record-breaking third term.

He had before gone to the historic Nalanda University ruins in Bihar. In 2016, the ruins were designated as a United Nations Heritage site.

It’s a very special day for our education sector. At around 10:30 AM today, the new campus of the Nalanda University would be inaugurated at Rajgir. Nalanda has a strong connect with our glorious past. This university will surely go a long way in catering to the educational needs… pic.twitter.com/sJh6cndEve — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 19, 2024

PM Modi remarked, "Today is a very special day for our education sector," taking to X. Today, at approximately 10:30 AM, the new Nalanda University campus in Rajgir will be opened. Nalanda has a close bond with our magnificent region."

The opening ceremony was attended by Nalanda University Chancellor Arvind Panagariya, Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Additionally present at the occasion were foreign envoys from seventeen different countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

There are two academic blocks on the site, each with forty classrooms and a total seating capacity of about 1900. There are two auditoriums in it, each with 300 seats. It has a dorm for students that can accommodate about 550 people. In addition, it has a number of other facilities, including a faculty club, a sports complex, an international center, and an auditorium with 2000 seats.

PM Narendra Modi's trip to Nalanda

Around 9.45 a.m., Modi will visit ancient Nalanda, which was designated a UN heritage site in 2016, and around 10.30 a.m., he will inaugurate the campuses. According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), he will also deliver a speech.

According to Abhay Kumar Singh, Modi's visit will increase the university's international reputation. Students at the university come from 26 different nations. The chief minister Nitish Kumar and the governor of Bihar, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, will accompany the prime minister.

In 2020, the institution relocated to a new campus featuring a blend of traditional and modern architectural design. A Net Zero area containing 100 acres of water features is part of the 455-acre site.

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History of Nalanda University

APJ Abdul Kalam, the president at the time, recommended that the Bihar parliament approve a measure in 2007 that laid the groundwork for a new institution. The university was established on November 25, 2010, by a special Act of Parliament, and was granted 455 acres by the government, according to The Hindu. The university was also granted national institution status.

With just 14 students, the new institution started operations on September 1, 2014, in a temporary facility. Sushma Swaraj, the external affairs minister at the time, officially opened the temporary site in September 2014 at the International Convention Centre in Rajgir, which is 10 km from the historic city of Nalanda.

In 2016, the foundation stone for the permanent campus in Rajgir's Pilkhi hamlet was laid by former president Pranab Mukherjee. Beginning in, work was done on the new campus.

About Nalanda University

The institution features two academic buildings with forty classrooms each, two auditoriums with 300 seats each, a hostel that can house up to 550 students, a sports complex, an international center, and a 2,000-seat amphitheater. The report also stated that it welcomes staff and students from different nations.

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- With inputs from agencies

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