About Bihar State Higher Education Council

The Bihar State Higher Education Council (BSHEC) is the apex advisory and regulatory body constituted by the Government of Bihar to plan, coordinate, and promote the development of higher education in the state. Established under the Bihar State Higher Education Council Act, the Council works as a vital link between Universities, Colleges, the State Government, and national bodies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), Ministry of Education (MoE), and Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).

BSHEC plays a strategic role in shaping higher education policy, improving academic quality, strengthening governance mechanisms, and facilitating digital transformation across institutions. The Council is responsible for preparing perspective plans, enhancing research and innovation, promoting equitable access, supporting accreditation and quality assurance, and ensuring effective implementation of flagship initiatives such as Samarth e-Governance Suite, NAD/ABC/APAAR, NEP 2020 reforms, NAAC Accredition and RUSA projects.

With a vision to build a robust, inclusive, and progressive higher education ecosystem, BSHEC works towards empowering institutions, improving learning outcomes, fostering industry–academia collaboration, and enabling Bihar to emerge as a hub of academic excellence and innovation.

Strategy and Planning

Preparing the State Higher Education Plan (Perspective Plan, Annual Plan and Budget Plan).

Gathering state institutions' inputs that will contribute to the State Higher Education Plan.

Coordination between apex bodies, regulatory institutions and government. Monitoring and Evaluation.

Monitoring the implementation of State Higher Education Plans.

Creating and maintaining the Management Information Systems (MIS).

Compiling and maintaining periodic statistics at state and institutional level. Evaluating state institutions on the basis of norms and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) developed.

Quality Assurance and Academic Functions

Encouraging and supporting faculty quality enhancement.

Ensuring the integrity and quality of examinations.

Ensuring that quality of curricula are maintained.

Promoting innovation in research.

Protecting institutional autonomy of all state institutions.

Approving new institutions/colleges.

Promoting accreditation reforms.

SHEC has begun to address quality assurance and academic issues.

Advisory Functions

Advising the state government on strategic investments in higher education.

Advising universities on statute and ordinance formulation.

Advising the Chancellor on matters related to higher education policy and governance.

Collaboration with NIELIT

Strategic Partnership

BSHEC and NIELIT Patna have partnered to facilitate skilling and up-skilling for students across Bihar's State Universities.

Focus on Emerging Tech

Cutting-edge technologies including AI, Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Big Data Analytics, Blockchain, and IoT.

Centres of Excellence

Establishing CoEs in Cyber Security, AI and other cutting edge technologies to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, connecting Academia, Industry, and Startups.

Inclusive Curriculum

Tailored courses designed for students of all streams—Arts, Commerce, and Life Sciences—alongside Computer Science and IT.

Varied Training Programs

Includes Semester Industrial Training, Summer Short-Term Training, and NSQF-aligned courses.

Faculty Development

NIELIT will conduct Faculty Development Programs (FDPs) to enhance technical and pedagogical skills of university faculty.

Evolution of BSHEC

2023
PM USHA Launched

In the light of the National Education Policy,2020 RUSA scheme has been launched as Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).

Five pillars of the NEP 2020: Accessibility, Quality, Equity, Accountability, and Affordability.

For proper functioning of Rastriya Uchttar Shiksha Abhiyan Yojna and for providing stability to temporarily constituted State Higher Education Council, The state government has decided to constitute permanent State Higher Education Council: Bihar State Higher Education Council Act, 2018. BSHEC Act was Notified on 16 January 2020 in the offical gazette of Bihar.

RUSA 2.0 - 2018 - launched.

The state government has temporarily constituted State Higher Education Council vide its notification no. 687 dated 28.03.2014.

  • RUSA 1.0 - 2013 - launched.
  • RUSA - Rahtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan launched.
  • 16 Objectives listed : - 16th Objective - 'Facilitate the creation of State Higher Education Councils(SHEC)'.
  • RUSA 1.0 - 2013 - launched.

CREATION OF MACHINARIES FOR CO-ORDINATED DEVELOPMENT
(A) STATE COUNCILS OF HIGHER EDUCATION (pars. 5.30)

22. There is at present no effective machinery for planning and coordination of Higher Education at the State level and co-ordination of State level programmes with those of the UGC. In order to fill this gap, it is proposed :
(a) to set up State Councils of Higher Education as Statutory Bodies.