Patna: In a major expansion of higher education infrastructure in Bihar, the number of colleges under the jurisdiction of Patliputra University (PPU) has increased to 94 following the inclusion of 16 new Rajkiya Degree Colleges in Patna and Nalanda districts. Of the total colleges, 26 are constituent colleges while 52 are affiliated institutions functioning under the university, said PPU dean of students’ welfare (DSW) Rajeev Ranjan.“With the expansion, the university is set to invite online applications for admission to nearly 1.25 lakh seats in the four-year undergraduate (UG) program for the academic session 2026-30,” Ranjan said, adding that the admission process will be carried out through the government’s ‘Samrath’ portal to ensure transparency, fairness and merit-based selection in accordance with eligibility criteria prescribed by the state higher education department.As per the policy decision and directives of the state govt, each newly established Rajkiya Degree College will initially admit around 300 students. “Teaching in six subjects will commence from the beginning of the academic session 2026-27 in each college, scheduled to start from July this year. The number of subjects in each college will subsequently be expanded to 16,” the DSW said.In addition, the university administration has already appointed regular principal-in-charges in all the newly added Degree colleges to facilitate the smooth commencement of academic activities. “Each Rajkiya Degree College will have a sanctioned staff strength of 44 employees, including 32 teaching staff and 12 non-teaching personnel,” he said.The state govt has taken a decision to establish 108 Rajkiya Degree Colleges across various blocks in the state to strengthen access to higher education. Of these, 16 colleges fall under the Patliputra University and are located in Patna and Nalanda districts.
