Two of the three new universities proposed by the state government, to be set up in Purnea, Munger and Patna, will become functional by the new academic session starting July-August this year.

The education department will issue a notification in the next seven to 10 days that the new universities will be created at Purnea and Patna. Sources added that the Raj Bhavan has given the green light to the creation of these two universities. There is, however, no mention of the university in Munger, and the Raj Bhavan is yet to receive the proposal from the government.

Additional secretary, education, K. Senthil Kumar said: "Once the department issues a notification for these universities, they will come into existence."

Patliputra University will have its headquarters in Patna. Magadh University (MU) will bifurcate to create the new varsity. Additionally colleges in Patna and Nalanda affiliated to MU will come under the Patliputra University.

Colleges affiliated to BN Mandal University in Madhepura, and located in Purnea and Katihar districts, will come under Purnea University after the new university is created. Colleges under Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University in Munger, Lakhisarai and Jamui districts is supposed to come under the proposed Munger University.

An education department official, said: "The education department is only bifurcating the existing universities. The colleges, faculty, non-teaching staff and students will have new addresses."

The teachers and non-teaching staff employed at the existing universitieswill be reassigned according to a set ratio between the new and old varsities. New assistant professors appointed by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) will also be shuffled.

The BPSC issued an advertisement for 3,364 posts for assistant professors in September 2014, and has completed the interview process for some subjects. The rest is likely to be completed by July or August.

A teacher at AN College in Patna, right now affiliated to Magadh University, said: "The biggest benefit of the new universities is infrastructure. All the three universities will have postgraduate departments, central libraries and to top it off, the University Grants Commission will create separate funds for them."

While the proposal for the creation of the new universities has been issued, proposal for the appointment of new vice-chancellors and pro-vice chancellors has not yet been issued by the Raj Bhavan.

Students will be benefited from the new universities because of local verification of documents and certificates. Amit Anand, a student of College of Commerce, Arts and Science, said: "Earlier, students had to travel from Patna to Bodhgaya - the MU headquarters - to get their documents and certificates. Now the process will be easier."

The Bihar cabinet and state assembly have agreed to the creation of the new universities by bifurcating the old.#