The Bihar government's proposal to introduce a single unified university Act for all state-run universities has sparked strong opposition from teachers at Patna University (PU), who argue that the move could dilute the institution's historic identity, academic autonomy and reputation as one of India's oldest centres of higher education. The state government, however, maintains that the reform is essential to modernise higher education, streamline governance and remove administrative complexities arising from multiple university laws.

The proposed legislation seeks to replace the Patna University Act, 1976 and the Bihar State Universities Act, 1976, along with subsequent amendments, with a common legal framework governing all conventional state universities.

Higher Education Director N K Agrawal said the education department and the Chancellor's Secretariat have initiated the process of drafting a unified Act that incorporates contemporary governance practices followed by universities across the country.

"Different university Acts often create administrative complications. A unified legislation will simplify governance and go a long way in modernising Bihar's higher education system," Agrawal said.

However, the proposal has drawn sharp criticism from the Patna University Teachers' Association (PUTA). Association president Sheo Sagar Prasad warned that bringing PU under the same legal framework as other state universities would undermine its unique legacy and residential character.

He argued that Patna University, established in 1917, has evolved into a premier teaching and research institution whose academic culture differs significantly from that of conventional affiliating universities. According to teachers, reducing PU to the status of a standard affiliating university could weaken its research ecosystem and academic excellence.

Faculty members have also expressed concern that a unified Act could pave the way for inter-university transfers of teaching and non-teaching staff, potentially leading to arbitrary postings and disrupting the university's academic environment.

Established on October 1, 1917, Patna University is the sixth-oldest university in the Indian subcontinent. It initially functioned as an affiliating and examining university for Bihar, Odisha and Nepal before becoming a teaching-cum-residential university after Independence under the Patna University Act of 1951-52.

Besides Patna University and other conventional institutions governed by separate Acts, Bihar currently has distinct legislation for universities such as Nalanda Open University, Aryabhatta Knowledge University, Bihar Agricultural University, Bihar Engineering University, Bihar University of Health Sciences and Bihar Sports University, reflecting the state's diverse higher education framework.