Built at an initial cost of $210 million and spread over 485 acres, the campus is among the largest in India and the first in the country to implement a 'Net Zero' eco-recycling strategy.[22] The university offers degree programmes in the School of Historical Studies (SHS), the School of Ecology and Environment Studies (SEES), the School of Buddhist Studies (SBS), the School of Philosophy and Comparative Religions (SPCR), the School of Languages and Literature/Humanities (SLLH), and the School of Management Studies (SMS). It also offers degrees in the study of the Sanātana Dharma, as well as diplomas in languages such asSanskrit,Pāli,Tibetan,Japanese andKorean. The new campus in Rajgir was inaugurated by thePrime Minister of IndiaNarendra Modi on June 19, 2024 in the presence of officials, ambassadors and dignitaries from all 10ASEAN members.[23]
Nalanda University was established to emulate the ancientBuddhist university ofNalanda (Nalanda mahavihara), which functioned between the 5th and 13th centuries. The idea to resurrect Nalanda University was endorsed in 2007 at the 2ndEast Asia Summit by the sixteen member countries.[27] In 2009, during the 4th East Asia summit,ASEAN member states including Australia, China, Korea, Singapore and Japan promised further support.[28] TheGovernment of Bihar handed over land acquired from local people, to the university for its new campus.[29][30][31][32][33] Chief Minister of BiharNitish Kumar also met External Affairs MinisterSM Krishna to receive reassurance that the Central Government would allocate sufficient funds to the project.[34]
The architectural design was chosen on the basis of a global competition.[35][36] The jury consisting of architects includingLiu Thai Ker chosePritzker Prize laureateBV Doshi's firm, Vastu Shilpa Consultants as the winner of the design competition.[37] The firm dbHMS provides the triplenet zero energy, water and waste strategic plan.[38] Original concepts associated with the project included "advancing the concept of an Asian community...and rediscovering old relationships."[39] and "acting as a bridge for students in different parts of Southeast Asia".[40]
The university has been envisioned as an international institution of national importance[41] and excellence.[42] It began its first academic session on 1 September 2014 with 15 students in the School of Historical Studies and the School of Ecology and Environmental studies. A hotel operated byBihar State Tourism Development Corporation inRajgir provided initial hostel accommodation.[43][44] Initially set up with temporary facilities inRajgir, a modern campus spanning over 160 hectares (400 acres) is under construction with over 80 percent having been completed by 2021.[40][45] The university started functioning from its 455-acres new campus from January 2020.[46] At least 200 villages surrounding the university will be attached to the university, reminiscent of the oldNalanda.[47]
Nalanda University becomes the first plastic free campus ofBihar.[48] Water in the university is now being available in glass bottles instead of plastic bottles. Along with this, biogas will also be produced.[citation needed]
For the academic year 2022-23, the University had 822 students in total. For the academic year 2023-24, the University had admitted 1038 students, out of which a total of 187 are international students (including Masters, Global PhD & Short Programmes as per January cycle).[49]
The Nalanda University Bill, 2010[51] was passed on 21 August 2010 inRajya Sabha and 26 August 2010 inLok Sabha.[52] The bill received Presidential assent on 21 September 2010 thereby becoming an Act.[53] The university came into existence on 25 November 2010, when the Act was implemented.
The first chancellor of the university wasAmartya Sen, followed by former Singapore Minister for Foreign AffairsGeorge Yeo. They left citing concerns about autonomy and political interference in academic matters.[55][56][57][58]Vijay Pandurang Bhatkar has been appointed the new chancellor on 25 January 2017 by PresidentPranab Mukherjee, in his capacity as Visitor to Nalanda University.[59] In 2017, Interim Vice-Chancellor Pankaj Mohan handed over charge to Professor Sunaina Singh.
Nalanda University has five functional Schools at present:
School of Historical Studies
School of Ecology and Environmental Studies
School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religion
School of Languages and Literature/Humanities
School of Management Studies
The following schools are planned to start later, in a phased manner:
School of International Relations and Peace Studies
School of Information Sciences and Technology
School of Business Management (Public Policy and Development Studies)[60]
Three centres — Centre for Bay of Bengal,[61] Centre for Conflict Resolution and Peace Building, and Common Archival Resource Centre— will be operational soon.[45]
The School of Languages and Literature/Humanities commenced its operations with one year Post-Graduate Diploma Programmes in Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Korean and English in 2018. Master's and doctoral programmes commenced in 2021.[62] It is planned to gradually expand to include other programmes in Indian and foreign languages.
^Chatterjee, Chandan; Kumar, Roshan (1 September 2014)."Nalanda 2.0, 800 years on".The Telegraph. Archived fromthe original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved7 August 2015.
