Nalanda University: PM Modi Inaugurates Cutting-Edge Campus

As a historic milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the state-of-the-art campus of Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar on June 19. This grand ceremony, attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and ambassadors from around 17 nations, marks a significant milestone in India’s educational journey.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi shared his excitement on X, stating, “It’s a very special day for our education sector. At around 10:30 AM today, the new campus of Nalanda University will be inaugurated at Rajgir. Nalanda has a strong connection with our glorious past. This university will surely go a long way in catering to the educational needs of the youth.”

Unveiling the Modern Marvel- Nalanda University

The new Nalanda University campus is a collaborative achievement between India and East Asia Summit (EAS) countries. The original Nalanda University founded approximately 1600 years ago, stands celebrated as one of the world’s first residential universities, thriving for centuries before its destruction in the 12th century.

Campus Highlights: Blending Tradition with Innovation in Nalanda University  

Designed with contemporary educational needs in mind, the new campus includes two academic blocks with 40 classrooms, accommodating around 1900 students. Additionally, it features two market auditoriums with a capacity of 300 seats each and a student hostel for approximately 550 students. The campus also boasts an international centre, an amphitheatre for up to 2000 individuals, a faculty club, a sports complex, and various other facilities. Notably, the campus is designed as a ‘Net Zero’ Green Campus, incorporating solar plants, water treatment and recycling plants, and 100 acres of water bodies, along with numerous other eco-friendly amenities.

Reviving an Ancient Legacy

Chancellor of Nalanda University, Arvind Panagariya, shared his optimism about preserving the spirit of the ancient Nalanda University. “This is incredibly significant, we have been waiting for this day. We wanted the PM to inaugurate the campus, and he has agreed to do so. I welcome him to the campus. Nalanda University is conceived here as an international institution. It was started with cooperation from more than a dozen countries from Southeast Asia. In the spirit of the ancient Nalanda, which lasted for about 800 years, the new Nalanda has been started with the same spirit but with a modern touch,” said Panagariya.

Diverse Academic Offerings

Nalanda University comprises six schools: the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy & Comparative Religions; the School of Historical Studies; the School of Ecology and Environmental Studies; and the School of Sustainable Development and Management. With a mission to revive the legacy of the ancient Nalanda University, the institution offers 137 scholarships for international students and has enrolled learners from diverse countries such as Argentina, Ghana, Indonesia, and the USA.

A Global Educational Initiative

The modern Nalanda University initiated through the Nalanda University Act of 2010, began its journey following a decision at the second East Asia Summit in the Philippines in 2007. The university commenced operations in 2014 from a temporary site with an initial batch of 14 students. The construction of the new campus began in 2017, with significant international involvement, including 17 countries, such as Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and China, signing MoUs to support the university.

With this inauguration, Nalanda University is poised to continue its tradition of academic excellence, embodying the spirit of its ancient predecessor while embracing modern educational paradigms.

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