ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the state-level structures relating to planning and administration in higher education in Bihar, India. With the Department of Higher Education, Government of Bihar providing overall direction, the governance of higher education is increasingly being centralized at the level of the office of Chancellor. The recruitment of faculty is centralized at the state level. The evolution of universities in Bihar is the highlight of the chapter. Major problems of governance at the state level relate to co-ordination and providing academic direction to the universities. Another aspect of governance is to oversee how the expansion of colleges, particularly under private management, takes place. In this regard, the issue of the affiliation of colleges and its concurrence by the state government needs to be managed well. Amongst some other problems, the issue of the recruitment of teachers is fully under the control of the state government. Changes in recruitment bodies have been creating problems as well.
