Three lakh students hit as state varsities face delays in sessions

Patna: Delays in academic sessions across universities in the state, from undergraduate (UG) to postgraduate (PG) levels, are severely impacting the future of nearly three lakh students. With delays ranging from two months to as long as 26 months, the state’s higher education system is struggling to stay on track despite repeated warnings from authorities.

What is particularly concerning is that even after multiple directives from governor-cum- chancellor Syed Ata Hasnain, university administrations have failed to streamline the academic calendar.

Around 13 state universities are witnessing delays across three academic cycles, from 2023-27 to 2025-29. The session delay was pointed out during a presentation.

In the 2023-27 UG session, the situation is grim. At Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU) the fifth semester is running four months behind schedule, while B N Mandal University (BNMU) has a delay of one month. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University (BRABU) is also lagging by four months in the fifth semester. The delay is even more pronounced at Jai Prakash University (JPU), where the fourth semester is behind 11 months and the fifth semester by seven months.

Similarly, Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University (KSDSU) is running 10 months late in the fourth semester, while Lalit Narayan Mithila University (LNMU) is five months behind in the fifth semester. Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic and Persian University (MMHAPU) has a 10 month delay in the fourth semester, Munger University is six months behind in the fifth semester, Patna University is delayed by four months, and Purnia University is running five months late.

The 2024-28 session also reflects a similar trend. At AKU, third semester exams are delayed by four months, while BNMU is three months behind. Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University (TMBU) is also facing a four-month delay. The situation is particularly severe at JPU where the second semester is delayed by nine months and the third semester by eight months. Meanwhile, KSDSU and MMHAPU are running nearly 10 months late in the second semester. Munger University is six months behind, while Patna University is delayed by six months in the second semester and four months in the third semester. Purnia University and TMBU are both running about four months late.

Even the new 2025-29 session is not immune to delays. The first semester at AKU is already five months late, while BNMU is delayed by three months. BRABU and TMBU are both five months behind. JPU is running four months late, while KSDSU, LNMU and MMHAPU are each delayed by about four months. Munger University is two months behind and Purnia University is delayed by four months.

At the PG-level, delays are even more severe. In the 2022-24 session, JPU recorded the longest delays with the third semester lagging by 26 months and the fourth by 21 months. The 2023-25 session continues the trend with delays of 20 months during second semester, 16 months in third semester, and 13 months in the fourth semester at the same university. KSDSU is 22 months behind in the second semester, while Patliputra University is delayed by 11 months.

For the 2024-26 PG session, AKU and TMBU are each four months behind in the third semester. JPU continues to struggle with delays of 14 months in the first semester, 11 months in the second, and eight months in the third. Other universities such as LNMU, Munger University, Patna University, Purnia University and TMBU are also facing delays ranging from two to four months.

Higher education department director N K Agrawal termed the delays a matter under the Lok Bhavan’s purview.


(With inputs from Niraj Sahay)


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