PATNA, May 27 -- Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary on Tuesday said that land would be handed over to the government of India soon for another Central University, the Vikramshila University, which has been in the pipeline for a decade. "Inform the Government of India by sending a letter in this regard," he said during the review meeting for higher education at Lok Sevak Awaas. Higher education department secretary also made a presentation before him to apprise the CM of the work under various schemes and programmes. Higher Education Minister Sanjay Singh Tiger was also present. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in February last year announced that Bihar would soon get another Central University in Bhagalpur, which would be fourth in the state apart from the other central institutions like IIT, NIT and AIIMs that have come in the last one and half decades. After his announcement, there was speculation that the foundation stone for the institution would be laid by Modi in April, but due to delay in land acquisition, it could not happen. There was also plan to start some academic activities from a makeshift venue at the earliest, which also could not happen. Ahead of the 2015 assembly elections, one of the important components of the Rs.1,25,000-crore special package for Bihar announced by Modi was to set up a central university near the ancient seat of learning at Vikramshila in Bhagalpur district. The Centre had also allocated Rs.500 crore for the university. The CM also gave instructions to start from July 1 bachelor's degree courses in 211 blocks which were hitherto without degree colleges, even though land is yet to be found for them. He asked the officials to compile vacancies and form committee for appointment. "There should be monitoring of colleges once they start functioning on a daily basis. The new college will be named after the persons who donates land for it or the persons recommended by them. Estimate the infrastructure, buildings, number of students studying and the grant amount given to unaided colleges," he added. The CM was also particular about reviving Bihar's premier research institute, AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies, which has been left rudderless without a full time director for years. "The CM also wanted work to be done on language academies. He wanted that all the research centres with the university in Bihar should also be made systematic and specialised. He also asked officials to study modalities for opening more open universities so that the students could get degrees at their will through distance learning and also reduce the burden on regular universities," he added. The CM said Bihar universities should go in for MoUs with India's top 10 varsities to attract students even from outside, though a senior official said that there was no discussion on controversies surrounding appointments and the health of existing universities, none of which feature in the top 200 of the National Institutional Framework Ranking (NIRF), 2025....