Admin Team
15 Apr

1. Ancient Learning, Historical-Political and Early Civilizational Firsts

Year / PeriodInstitution / Site / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
c. 6th century BCVajji League of VaishaliVaishaliConsidered the world’s first known republic.
5th Century CENalanda University / Nalanda MahaviharaNalandaOften cited as the first international residential university in the world; one of the world’s first residential academic research universities; scholars studied Buddhism, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, geography.
8th Century CEVikramshila UniversityBiharEstablished by King Dharam Pala; a premier centre of learning.
8th Century CEOdantapuri UniversityBiharOne of the oldest Buddhist mahaviharas in Bihar.
Ancient / Pre-colonialAhar-Pyne SystemSouth BiharDescribed as the oldest indigenous irrigation system; community-managed flood-harvesting system associated with the Magadha period.

2. School, College, University and General Education Institutions

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1835Patna Collegiate SchoolPatnaEstablished on 10 August 1835 by the East India Company; considered the oldest high school in Bihar.
1863Patna CollegePatnaAlso mentioned in input as established on 12 July 1863; described as the oldest college in Bihar.
1839 (vision)Central College VisionPatnaVision for a central college in Patna was initiated in 1839
1917Patna UniversityPatnaEstablished on 1 October 1917; first university in Bihar and seventh oldest in the Indian subcontinent.
1927 / 1928Patna Science CollegePatnaMentioned as established in 1927; formally opened on November 15, 1928, by Lord Irwin.
1940Patna Women’s CollegePatnaFirst women’s college in Bihar.

3. Engineering, Technical, IIT, IIM and IT-linked Education

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1886Survey Training SchoolPatnaLater evolved into Bihar School of Engineering / NIT Patna; one of the oldest technical institutes.
1900Bihar School of EngineeringPatnaDescribed as the first engineering school in Bihar; now linked with NIT Patna.
1954Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology (MIT)MuzaffarpurOne of the earliest technical colleges of post-independence Bihar.
2004NIT Patna (status)PatnaGained National Institute of Technology status.
2008IIT PatnaPatna / BihtaFirst IIT in Bihar.
2008NIFT PatnaPatnaBihar’s premier fashion institute under the Ministry of Textiles.
2009St. Xavier’s College of Management and TechnologyPatnaMentioned as a leading private institution for media and communication studies.
2010BELTRONBihar / PatnaBihar State Electronics Development Corporation; nodal body for electronics, IT infrastructure and e-governance.
2025Aryabhatta Supercomputing FacilityIIT PatnaDescribed as the first HPC system under the National Supercomputing Mission in Bihar.

4. Agriculture, Agricultural Education and Research

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1905Imperial Agricultural Research InstitutePusa, SamastipurEstablished on 1 April 1905; described as India’s first agricultural research institute; later linked to Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University.
1908Bihar Agricultural University / Bengal Provincial Agricultural CollegeSabour, BhagalpurMentioned as the oldest agricultural college in the state.
Later / revivedDr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU)Pusa, SamastipurDescribed as the oldest centre of agricultural education in Bihar and the first Central Agricultural University in Bihar.
Early 1900sSugarcane Research InstitutePusa, SamastipurEstablished to support Bihar’s sugar industry.
LaterHorticulture Research Centre (HRC)KishanganjSpecialized agricultural research centre.
LaterPulse Research CentreMokamaSpecialized research station under agricultural development.

5. Veterinary, Animal Sciences, Dairy and Fisheries

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1927Bihar Veterinary College (BVC)PatnaEstablished on 2 April 1927; founded by Sir Henry Wheeler; first veterinary college in Bihar; also mentioned as 5th oldest veterinary college in undivided India.
1980Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Dairy Technology (SGIDT)PatnaPremier institute for dairy technology, education and research.
1983Bihar State Milk Cooperative Federation (COMFED)BiharApex dairy cooperative body; manages Sudha; foundation of modern dairy cooperative structure.
1986College of FisheriesDholi, MuzaffarpurEstablished on 5 November 1986; one of the oldest fisheries colleges in the country.
2013Nalanda DairyBihar SharifDescribed as the largest and first fully automated dairy plant in Eastern India.
2017Bihar Animal Sciences University (BASU)PatnaFirst university in Bihar dedicated to animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries.
2018College of FisheriesKishanganjEstablished to strengthen inland fisheries in North Bihar.

6. Medical, Dental, Ayurveda, Nursing and Health Infrastructure

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1874Temple Medical SchoolPatnaEarlier institution from which later PMCH developed.
1925Prince of Wales Medical College / PMCHPatnaEstablished / inaugurated in 1925; described as the first modern medical college in Bihar and the oldest medical college in the state.
1925Medical School (later DMCH)DarbhangaBegan as a medical school; later upgraded.
1926Government School of AyurvedaBiharEstablished in 1926; later upgraded to a college in 1947.
1940Kurji Holy Family Hospital Nursing SchoolPatnaSchool of Nursing established in 1940.
1946Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH)DarbhangaUpgraded to a full medical college in 1946.
1960Patna Dental College and HospitalPatnaEstablished on 9 September 1960; first government dental college in Bihar.
1963Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS)PatnaFormally established on 3 December 1963; premier institute on Kala-azar and infectious diseases.
1979Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (RARI / ARRI)PatnaEstablished in May 1979; focused on clinical trials and Ayurvedic validation.
1983Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS)PatnaPremier tertiary care and superspecialty institute.
1998Mahavir Cancer SansthanPatnaMajor specialized cancer treatment and research centre.
2010Bihar Medical Services & Infrastructure Corporation Ltd. (BMSICL)BiharPremier government corporation for healthcare construction, procurement and infrastructure.
2023Alay Fatima Hai College of NursingPatnaModern private nursing institute for B.Sc. Nursing.


7. Research, Scientific and Academic Societies

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1868Bihar Scientific SocietyMuzaffarpurEstablished on 24 May 1868 by Syed Imdad Ali; one of the earliest scientific societies in British India.
1915Bihar and Orissa Research Society / Bihar Research SocietyPatnaEstablished in January 1915; described as the second-oldest research institution of its kind in India after the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
1950 / 1951K.P. Jayaswal Research InstitutePatnaMentioned as established in 1950 in one place and 1951 in another; promotes historical and archaeological research.
1978Shri Krishna Science CenterPatnaInaugurated on 14 April 1978; described as the first scientific museum for public education in Bihar.
LaterCentre for Health Policy (ADRI)PatnaEvidence-based policy support in health sector.
LaterCentre for Sustainable Energy and Climate Change (CSEC), ADRIPatnaClimate, water-resource and energy studies.

8. Political, Administrative and Judicial Institutions

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1889Bihar Kayastha Provincial SabhaBiharEarly political-social institution.
1908Bihar Provincial Muslim LeagueBiharEarly regional political organization.
After 1908Bihar Provincial Congress CommitteeBiharEarly Congress organizational structure in Bihar.
1912Separate Province of BiharBiharBihar carved out from the Bengal Presidency on 22 March 1912.
1912Patna SecretariatPatnaEstablished as the first Secretariat.
1913Provincial Legislative CouncilPatnaFirst meeting held on 20 January 1913 at Patna College.
1916Patna High CourtPatnaCommenced functioning on 1 March 1916.
1920Lord S.P. SinhaBihar and Orissa ProvinceMentioned as the first Governor of Bihar and Orissa province.
1929Bihar Provincial Kisan SabhaBiharFormed by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati; first peasant organization.
1931Bihar Socialist PartyBiharMentioned as the first socialist movement/party; later linked to Congress Socialist formation.
1934Bihar Congress Socialist PartyBiharMentioned as the first socialist party in another part of input.
1936Sir James David SiftonBiharAppointed first Governor of Bihar on 1 April 1936.
1937Bihar Legislative AssemblyBiharCame into being under the Government of India Act, 1935.
1937Muhammad YunusBiharFirst Premier of Bihar.
1946–1961Dr. Sri Krishna SinhaBiharFirst Chief Minister of independent Bihar.
1949Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC)Bihar, RanchiFormed on 1 April 1949. The first office of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) was located in Ranchi
1951BPSC shifted to PatnaPatnaShifted to Patna on 1 March 1951.

9. Power, Electricity and Energy Institutions

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1949Separate Electricity DepartmentBiharCreated for electricity policy formulation.
1958Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB)BiharEstablished on 27 March 1958; started functioning in April 1958.
1962Barauni Thermal Power Station (BTPS)BarauniDescribed as the first major state-owned thermal power station.
1982Bihar State Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd. (BHPC)BiharEstablished on 31 March 1982.
2002Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC)BiharEstablished on 15 April 2002.
2012Bihar State Power Holding Company Ltd. (BSPHCL)BiharIncorporated on 16 April 2012; replaced BSEB as holding company.
2012Bihar State Power Generation Company Ltd. (BSPGCL)BiharEstablished on 1 November 2012.
2012Bihar State Power Transmission Company Ltd. (BSPTCL)BiharIncorporated on 1 November 2012.
2012North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. (NBPDCL)North BiharFormed on 1 November 2012.
2012South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. (SBPDCL)South BiharFormed on 1 November 2012.
2013Bihar Grid Company Ltd. (BGCL)BiharIncorporated on 4 January 2013; JV for transmission strengthening.

10. Silk, Textile, Fashion and Apparel

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1922Bihar Silk and Textile Institute / Bihar Silk InstituteNathnagar, BhagalpurDescribed as the first silk and textile education institution in the historical sense.
1970Bihar State Textile Corporation Ltd.BiharMentioned as the first state-level textile body.
1994Bihar Institute of Silk & TextilesBhagalpurMentioned as the first specialized technical textile institute in the modern sense.
2008NIFT PatnaPatnaBihar’s premier fashion institute.

11. Mining, Geology and Mineral Sector

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1894First Indian enterprise in miningJharia coalfieldSeth Khora Ramji challenged British monopoly by starting coal extraction.
1964Department of Mines & GeologyBiharEstablished as an independent department.
1971Directorate of MinesBiharSpecialized directorate under Mines & Geology department.
1971Directorate of GeologyBiharSpecialized directorate for geological investigations.
1972Bharat Coking Coal Ltd. (BCCL)DhanbadIncorporated in January 1972.
1975BIT Sindri Mining Technology DivisionBIT SindriEstablished by Bihar Government to meet need for mining engineers.

12. Wildlife, Environment, Biodiversity and Eco-tourism

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1927Bihar Veterinary CollegePatnaAlso highlighted in wildlife-health context as an early foundational institution.
1969 / 1973Sanjay Gandhi Biological ParkPatnaInitially botanical garden (1969); became full biological park/zoo in 1973
1974Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB)BiharFirst sectoral pollution control body.
1976Bhimbandh Wildlife SanctuaryMungerFirst wildlife sanctuary in Bihar.
1989Valmiki National ParkWest ChamparanFirst and only national park in Bihar.
1991Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin SanctuaryBhagalpur regionIndia’s first and only protected area dedicated solely to the Gangetic Dolphin.
2019Gogabil Lake Community ReserveKatiharFirst community reserve in Bihar.
2021Rajgir Nature SafariRajgir, NalandaFirst modern nature safari in Bihar; includes the first glass bridge in Bihar.

13. Geography, Archaeology and Earth Studies

Year / PeriodInstitution / Site / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
c. 1200 BCJuafardih siteNalandaOldest archaeological site with Neolithic and early NBPW traces.
2022Department of Geography, CUSBGayaEstablished for advanced earth and environmental studies.

14. Railway Institutions and Railway Firsts

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1862Jamalpur Locomotive WorkshopJamalpurFirst railway workshop in Bihar and India.
1875Tirhut RailwayDalsinghsarai–Samastipur–DarbhangaFirst railway famine line.
1888IRIMEEJamalpurOldest centralized railway training institute.
1959Rajendra SetuOver GangaFirst rail-cum-road bridge over Ganga.
2002East Central Railway (ECR)HajipurModern railway administrative zone.

15. Commerce, Industry, Infrastructure and MSME

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1926Bihar Chamber of Commerce & Industries (BCCI)Bihar / PatnaFirst apex trade and commerce association.
1960Bihar State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (BSIDC)BiharFirst state industrial promotion corporation.
1974Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA)BiharFirst industrial area development authority.
2006Infrastructure Development Authority (IDA)BiharFirst nodal PPP agency.
2010Bihar State Educational Infrastructure Development Corporation (BSEIDC)BiharFirst specialized educational infrastructure corporation.

16. Food, Civil Supplies and Warehousing

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1973Bihar State Food & Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. (BSFC)BiharNodal body for procurement, storage and PDS.

17. Media, Press, Radio, Television and Communication

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1875Bihar HeraldBiharFirst English newspaper in Bihar.
1894Bihar TimesPatnaSupported demand for separate Bihar province.
1918The SearchlightBiharBecame a prominent daily.
1948All India Radio PatnaPatnaFirst AIR station in Bihar.
1978Doordarshan Kendra MuzaffarpurMuzaffarpurFirst Doordarshan Kendra in Bihar.

18. Museums, Culture, Heritage and Performing Arts

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1860sBihar Sharif MuseumBihar SharifOne of the earliest museums.
1917Patna MuseumPatnaHouses Didarganj Yakshi.
1948Rabindra BhavanPatnaPerforming arts institution.
1971Bhartiya Nritya Kala MandirPatnaDance and theatre centre.
2015Bihar MuseumPatnaModern heritage museum.

19. Tourism Institutions

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1980Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC)BiharTourism infrastructure body.

20. Irrigation, Water Resources and Flood Management

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
1874Sone Canal SystemSouth-West BiharOldest irrigation project.
1874Dehri AnicutDehriOldest hydraulic structure.
1877Kharagpur Lake DamMungerOldest dam in Bihar.
1959Gandak Project AgreementNorth BiharFirst interstate irrigation project.
1978Minor Irrigation DepartmentBiharLater Water Resources Dept.
1987WALMIPatnaFirst participatory irrigation institution.
1988PIM ProjectPaliganjFirst farmer-managed irrigation project.

21. Technology, IT, Electronics and State Tech Bodies

Year / PeriodInstitution / FirstPlaceImportant Facts
2007Department of ITBiharEstablished for e-governance.
2008STPI PatnaPatnaFirst software technology park.
2010BELTRONBiharNodal IT agency.
RecentAI Committee for Land RecordsBiharFirst state to form AI committee for land reforms.
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