Boosting Bihar’s GER: How readiness and recruitment can reshape higher education

Key Points

1. Bihar has approximately 30 recognized universities, representing about 2-2.5% of India's total.
2. Bihar's Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is 17.1% compared to India's 28.4%.
3. Nearly three crore Biharis are estimated to be working outside the State by 2025.
4. A CAG report noted that 18% of Bihar's higher education budget (₹22,576 crore) went unused between 2017 and 2022.
5. 57% of teaching posts in 11 test-checked universities in Bihar were vacant.
6. Bihar has a student-teacher ratio of 39:1, significantly higher than the national average of 16:1.