UGC grants recognition to Bihar's first sports university

PATNA: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has granted recognition to Bihar's first sports university located in Rajgir in Nalanda district. This accreditation has now placed the university among the esteemed institutions recognised by the UGC under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had on August 29 last year, on the National Sports Day, inaugurated the state’s first sports academy and Bihar Sports University, which will be part of the International Sports Complex at Rajgir.

According to a statement issued by the university on Saturday, “The Bihar Sports University, Rajgir, has got recognition from the UGC under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956. Now, the university is empowered to start academic courses that include undergraduate and other diploma/pg diploma courses in physical education and sports sciences.”

The university intends to start several academic programmes from the next academic session 2025 – 2026, the statement said.

New programmes for academic session 2025-26

"These programmes include: Diploma/Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Sports Coaching in two or three games, Diploma/Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga, four years Bachelor of Physical Education (BPEd) (subject to recognition from the National Council for Teacher Education)," it said.

Retired IAS officer Shishir Sinha was recently appointed the first vice chancellor of the Bihar Sports University by the state government. As per the UGC guidelines, the university shall immediately appoint an Ombudsperson in accordance with the UGC (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023, for redressal of grievances of students preferably within two months of starting academic activities.