Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) has become the first university in the state to receive an A grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

NAAC evaluation of educational institutions has gained momentum in the state after the University Grants Commission (UGC) directed all higher-education institutes to get accredited.

Several colleges have gone for the accreditation and re-accreditation in the past two months.

According to the 13th meeting of the NAAC standing committee on March 17, the latest institutions in Bihar to get NAAC grades are CNLU, Patna Training College, Rajkiya Mahila Mahavidyalaya (Patna City) and Satyendra Narain Sinha College (Gaya).

While CNLU was awarded A grade, the other three were awarded B. CNLU, with its overall 3.15 CGPA (cumulative grade points average), has become the first university in Bihar to be graded A by the NAAC.

According to sources in the education department, the four universities getting NAAC accreditation brings the tally of NAAC-accredited institutes in Bihar to 52. The department has said its target is to increase the number of NAAC-accredited colleges to 100 by the end of this year.

"CNLU went for a NAAC grading according to the UGC directive. It also makes it easier for the institution to get funds," said CNLU registrar S.P. Singh.

As CNLU is NAAC-accredited now, it will be entitled to funds worth Rs 10 crore for academic and infrastructure development under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan.

The Abhiyan is a Centre-sponsored scheme that provides funds to eligible higher educational institutions.

"NAAC accreditation does not only assess an institution's potential but also helps in acquiring funds meant for development," said Patna Training College principal Khagendra Kumar.

Patna Training College received a B grade from the NAAC and is the fourth institution under Patna University to get accredited. Patna University, Bihar's oldest university established in 1917, is yet to get NAAC accreditation. Colleges under it such as Patna Science College, Patna College and BN College are also running without NAAC accreditation.

The NAAC carries out the accreditation procedure once every five years. All UGC-recognised colleges need to submit a self-study report which is reviewed by an NAAC team. Gradation is done on the basis of this report. An institution can also go for accreditation outside the scheduled reviewing system. They can send their report, based on which an NAAC team visits the institution within six months.

Institutions are offered four grades - A denotes very good, B means good, C spells satisfactory and D is unsatisfactory.

"NAAC accreditation is not an easy task, as the institution has to prepare a seven-point self study report," said a senior teacher at Patna Science College.

The seven points are curricular aspects, teaching-learning and evaluation, research, infrastructure and learning resources, student support and progression, governance leadership and management, innovations, and best practices.

The Patna University teacher said the varsity lacks the manpower to make the report because of acute shortage of teachers.

"The university has constituted a committee headed by the dean of students welfare Dolly Sinha to initiate the accreditation process," said Patna University pro-vice-chancellor R.K. Verma. "The committee will submit its report by the first week of April."

GRADE GIST

Institution     Grade 

• CNLU    A

• Patna Women’s College     A

• Magadh Mahila College (under Patna University)     A

• AN College (under Magadh University)     A

• College of Arts and Crafts (under Patna University)     B 

• College of Commerce, Arts and Science     B
(under Magadh University) 

• Rajkiya Mahila Mahavidyalaya (Patna City)     B