BJP national president J P Nadda has said that nearly Rs 2,700 crores have been allotted by PM Modi for retaining the glory of Nalanda University. Speaking at the Professors Summit in Ahmedabad, he said that educational institutes are on the path to revival.
The Nalanda University Act, 2010 was passed in both houses of the parliament after the idea of the revival of the Nalanda University was first mooted by former President, APJ Abdul Kalam in 2006. 450 acres of land (planned for an eventual 7000 population) at the base of Rajgir Hills was identified and acquired for its construction. On 1st September 2014, the academic sessions at Nalanda University began.
The master plan to rebuild Nalanda University allows for incremental growth and flexible expansion and phasing while preserving the agricultural and environmental basis of the region. The project aims to combine state-of-the-art technologies with planning principles of erstwhile Nalanda University.
The reconciliation of the historical with the contemporary is envisaged at many levels and in many ways in the project. Be it in the physical structure and the curriculum’s focus areas.
Prime Minister Modi unveiled a grand project- restoring the ancient Nalanda University to its great glory on September 1, 2014. The university, a center of knowledge and learning in ancient times was destroyed completely in the year 1193, by Bakhtiyar Khilji.
In an RTI it was revealed that Nalanda University came into existence in 2010 but academic courses commenced in the year 2014. So far, it has got around Rs 964 crore as grants from the government. It has also got around Rs 18 crore as endowment funds from foreign countries.
From 2014 to 2020, Nalanda University enrolled 710 regular students, 97 percent of whom successfully completed their courses. Currently, there are 172 regular students, 24 teaching staff, 18 visiting or guest faculty, and 40 non-teaching staff at the university.
If the contributions from the government and from abroad are clubbed, around Rs 982 crore came to the university. With a total of 710 regular students at Nalanda University, per student expenditure of Nalanda University stands at 1.38 crore.
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