PATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the new campus of Nalanda University, an international institution located near the ancient ruins of Nalanda in Rajgir, Bihar, on Wednesday, June 19.

The Nalanda University was established by the Parliament of India through the Nalanda University Act, 2010, following decisions made at the 2nd East Asia Summit (EAS).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Nalanda on Wednesday, where he will first visit the ancient ruins of Nalanda around 9:45 am. Subsequently, at approximately 10:30 am, he will inaugurate the new campus of Nalanda University in Rajgir, as announced by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Monday.

This visit marks Modi’s first trip to Bihar since being sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time.

Nalanda University is a collaborative initiative between India and the East Asia Summit (EAS) countries. The inauguration ceremony will witness the presence of several dignitaries, including Heads of Missions from 17 countries.

Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will also be attending the event.

The campus includes two academic blocks with 40 classrooms, accommodating around 1,900 students in total. It also features two auditoriums, each with a seating capacity of 300, and a student hostel for approximately 550 students. Additionally, the campus houses facilities such as an International Centre, an Amphitheatre for up to 2,000 people, a faculty club, and a sports complex, among others.

The campus is a ‘net zero’ green campus, self-sustainable with solar plants, domestic and drinking water treatment facilities, a water recycling plant for wastewater, 100 acres of water bodies, and other environmentally friendly infrastructure.

The new university has a rich historical connection. The original Nalanda University, established around 1,600 years ago, is regarded as one of the world's first residential universities. In 2016, the Nalanda ruins were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The idea of reviving Nalanda University was proposed by the eleventh President of India, A P J Abdul Kalam, during an address to the Joint Session of the Bihar Vidhan Mandal on March 28, 2006. The Bihar legislative assembly subsequently passed a bill in 2007 for the establishment of a new university aimed at revitalizing the original Nalanda University.

The Nalanda University Bill, 2010, was passed in the Rajya Sabha on August 21, 2010, and in the Lok Sabha on August 26, 2010. It received Presidential assent on September 21, 2010, officially becoming an Act. The university was formally established on November 25, 2010.

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