Bihar has historically been an important centre of education and is home to some of India's oldest universities. Historical records indicate that Bihar's educational institutions were significantly disrupted during the medieval period following military conquests of the region. In recent history, the education system in Bihar has undergone significant changes, with efforts focused on improving access, overall quality, and educational infrastructure.
Bihar's education system expanded during the late colonial period of British rule, when a university was established in Patna, along with other centers of higher education, namely the Patna Science College, Prince of Wales Medical College (now the Patna Medical College and Hospital), and the National Institute of Technology, Patna. This early lead was lost in the post-independence period, when Bihar's politicians lost out in the race to get institutes of education established in the state. National institutes of learning, such as IIT, IIM, AIIMS, IISER, and NISER, had a notable representation from Bihar. A survey by Pratham rated these institutes' teachings to have been better absorbed by children in Bihar than those in other states. According to the government, the out-of-school rate in the 6–14 age group was 6.3% in 2007, a significant drop from the 12.8% rate in 2006.
The landscape of education in Bihar has evolved significantly over time. In the late colonial period, the region witnessed a revival of learning with the establishment of several institutions of higher education in Patna. In recent years, reforms introduced by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB)—including interviews for top-ranking students and revised examination formats—have coincided with a rise in official pass rates. A key change has been the introduction of a 50% objective component consisting of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). Under this system, theory-based subjects include 50 MCQs, while subjects with a practical component include 35 MCQs. As a result, the 2020 examination results showed a notable improvement, with pass rates increasing to 80.44% for Class 12 and 80.59% for Class 10. However, the state faced challenges in securing placements for its students in national institutes after independence for several decades.
History of education Historically, Bihar has been home to the ancient universities of Nalanda (est. 450 CE), Odantapura (est. 550 CE), and Vikramashila (est. 783 CE). The Nalanda and Vikramshila universities were destroyed during the military campaigns of Bakhtiyar Khilji in c. 1200 CE.
Bihar saw a revival of its education system during the latter part of British rule, when Patna University, the seventh-oldest university of the Indian subcontinent, was established in 1917. Some other institutions established during British rule include Patna College (est. 1839), Bihar School of Engineering (est. 1900; now known as National Institute of Technology, Patna), Prince of Wales Medical College (est. 1925; now Patna Medical College and Hospital), Science College, Patna (est. 1928), Patna Women's College, Bihar Veterinary College (est. 1927), and Imperial Agriculture Research Institute (est. 1905; now Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture University, Pusa).
The second-oldest engineering college in India was established as a survey training school in 1886 and later renamed Bihar College of Engineering in 1932. Subsequently, the Indian government upgraded the Bihar College of Engineering to National Institute of Technology (NIT) status in 2004 and granted it Institute of National Importance status in 2007, in accordance with the National Institutes of Technology Act, 2007.
Bihar was an important educational centre in Eastern India before independence. In the 1960s, major educational reforms were implemented to streamline the education structure of the state by the then education minister and educationist Satender Narain Sinha. However, the changes were short-lived, as successive governments failed to implement them. In 1964, the Bihar School of Yoga was established in Munger.
Bihar has an underdeveloped educational infrastructure, creating a gap between educational demand and available infrastructure. Educational infrastructure challenges were exacerbated by rapid population growth and administrative issues during the late 20th century. Following changes in state leadership in 2005, there has been a renewed focus on infrastructure investment and literacy programs. Improved governance has led to an economic revival in the state through increased investment in infrastructure, better health care facilities, greater emphasis on education, and a reduction in crime and corruption.* High demand for higher education among the general population of Bihar has led to a migration of the student community from the state. This has led to large scale student migration for those seeking educational opportunities in other states, such as New Delhi and Karnataka, even for graduate-level college education. A study found that 37.8% of Bihar's teachers were absent during unannounced visits to schools, the worst teacher absence rate in India and one of the worst in the world. Despite challenges in educational investment in Bihar, some studies have reported comparatively strong student performance relative to other economically disadvantaged states.
Ancient period The most significant contributions to education in ancient Bihar came from the Gupta and Pala dynasties, which patronized prominent Buddhist universities. In the 5th century CE, Kumaragupta I, a Gupta emperor, established Nalanda University, making it one of the world's earliest residential universities. Later, the Pala dynasty, known for its patronage of Nalanda, established other significant centers of learning in the region, including Vikramashila University in the 8th century CE.
Modern period In the modern era, key figures and governing bodies have significantly shaped the educational landscape of Bihar. The British East India Company established Patna Collegiate School in 1835 to introduce English-style education to the region. Acharya Badrinath Verma, the first Education Minister of Bihar after India's independence, laid the foundation for the modern education system. The state government of Bihar has implemented several reform initiatives, including the Bihar Education Project and the establishment of the Bihar School Examination Board in 1952. As Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar oversaw the creation of the Simultala Awasiya Vidyalaya in 2010, a state-run school renowned for its high-achieving students. In 2010, the Government of India revived Nalanda University as an international center of learning, preserving its rich legacy for the modern era.
Literacy
+Literacy rate from 1951 to 2011YearTotalMalesFemales196121.9535.858.11197123.1735.869.86198132.3247.1116.61199137.4951.3721.99200147.5360.3233.57201163.8273.3953.33201770.979.760.5
Bihar has a total literacy rate of 70.9% in 2017. The number of literate people in Bihar is 31,675,607, which includes 20,978,955 men and 10,696,652 women. The overall literacy rates are 79.7% and 60.5%, respectively. The total rural literacy rate is 69.5%, where the male and female literacy rates are 78.6% and 58.7% respectively. The total urban literacy rate is 83.1%, where the male and female literacy rates are 89.3% and 75.9% respectively. The Patna district has the highest literacy rate in Bihar (87.82%), followed by Rohtas (80.36%) and Munger (78.11%). Kishanganj has the lowest literacy rate in Bihar (61.05%), followed by Araria (64.95%) and Katihar (65.46%). A recent survey by Pratham rated the receptivity of Bihari children to their teaching as being better than those in other Indian states. Authorities in Bihar have taken measures to improve female literacy, which currently stands at 60.5%. Soon after India proclaimed its independence, female literacy rates in Bihar was recorded at 4.22%, according to the 1951 Census.
Primary and secondary education
Since the British colonial period in India, Bihar has had a system of district schools, called Zila schools, located in the older districts of Bihar. In addition, there were private and semi-aided schools which were run and administered by local village communities. Several were known for offering higher-quality education.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the state government took over management of most privately run schools. This adversely affected education in the state, as the state government was ill-equipped to manage the schools through its bureaucrats, who were trained for law and order duties. Though the state accorded the schools government recognition, the standard started to fall. The state did not take over the schools run by the Christian missionaries, and these schools continued operating independently and are often associated with higher educational outcomes.
As in other states, the central government runs several Kendriya Vidyalayas (Central Schools) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas for rural students. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, started by the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, have been successful in providing quality education to the weaker sections of society.
Simultala Awasiya Vidyalaya was established in 2010 during the tenure of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The school has consistently recorded strong performances in the Bihar School Examination Board.
The number of private schools, including school-chains and missionary schools run by Christian missionaries, as well as madrasas and schools run by Muslim clerics, has increased in the post-liberalisation era.
Most of the schools in Bihar are affiliated with the Bihar School Examination Board, while the Kendriya Vidyalaya and a few other elite schools, including the Christian missionary schools, are affiliated with the CBSE board. A recent survey by National University of Educational Planning & Administration (NUEPA) has determined that only 21% of all primary school teachers in Bihar have completed the matriculation or 10th standard. However, the Bihar Government has recently implemented a series of reforms in its primary education sector, which includes mandatory digitisation of all state-run schools.
At the primary level, government schools are often the only option available to poor families, especially in rural areas. However, many of these schools suffer from inadequate infrastructure, including poorly maintained buildings, a lack of basic teaching materials, and shortages of teachers. A large proportion of teachers come from socially and economically dominant groups, and their attitudes can discourage students from lower castes and classes from attending school. Although teachers from Other Backward Classes (OBCs) were appointed in the 1990s, irregular payment of salaries has affected their regular attendance. In addition, poor road connectivity and limited transport facilities further reduce school participation.
Higher education Bihar is home to Institutes of National Importance, including IIT Patna, IIM Bodh Gaya, AIIMS, Patna, NIT Patna, IIIT Bhagalpur, NIPER Hajipur, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture University, and Nalanda University.
In 2008, Indian Institutes of Technology Patna was inaugurated and the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Patna was established. The Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya was established in 2015. In March 2019, the government of Bihar sent a proposal to the central government to upgrade Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital into an AIIMS-like institution.