PATNA, Oct. 17 -- Jamui's renowned Simultala Awasiya Vidyalaya (SAV) has clinched the second rank nationwide in the prestigious Cfore School Rankings 2026 under the government residential schools category. The achievement marks a deeply poetic milestone. When Bihar lost the revered Netarhat Vidyalaya during the 2000 state bifurcation to Jharkhand, a void was left in the state's public schooling landscape. To reclaim that heritage, then chief minister Nitish Kumar envisioned an institution along the same legendary lines, establishing SAV on August 9, 2010. Exactly a decade and a half later, that visionary gamble has blossomed into a national academic powerhouse. Jamui's Simultala Awasiya Vidyalaya finished a breath behind at 1039 points - tied identically with its spiritual predecessor, Netarhat Vidyalaya in Latehar. Reflecting on the milestone, Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary celebrated the feat as a symbol of Bihar's unyielding merit. "Securing second place across the country proves that our mission to elevate Bihar's education system to global standards is bearing fruit," the CM noted. Congratulating the students and faculty, Bihar education minister Mithilesh Tiwari hailed the ranking as a watershed moment, adding that SAV's discipline and academic rigour have set an inspiring benchmark for public schooling. JD(U) working president and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha underscored that the recognition firmly restores Bihar's historic legacy of academic excellence. It must be mentioned here that 2026 Cfore rankings spotlighted a fiercely contested race among India's premier public institutions. Haryana's Motilal Nehru School of Sports in Sonipat captured the national top spot with a score of 1043. A parameter-level breakdown reveals distinct institutional strengths behind the tie between Simultala and Netarhat. Simultala gained a clear edge in academic rigour (90/100) alongside teacher competence and relationship (129/150). In contrast, Netarhat scored higher in sports (82/100), pedagogy and relevant curriculum (116/150), and hostel facilities and pastoral care (63/75)....