Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, June 28, 2026, spotlighted how Nalanda University in Bihar and Central Sanskrit University are bridging ancient Indian knowledge systems with contemporary education, sharing the feature as part of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat.

Context

The post, shared on the morning of June 28, accompanied a video illustrating the dual mandate of the two institutions — preserving India's classical intellectual heritage while equipping students with modern academic tools. Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister's monthly address to citizens broadcast on All India Radio, frequently surfaces grassroots stories and institutional achievements that reinforce the government's cultural and educational priorities.

Nalanda University, located in Rajgir, Bihar, is a revival of the ancient Nalanda seat of learning that flourished between the 5th and 12th centuries CE and attracted scholars from across Asia. The modern institution was re-established under an act of Parliament and formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in June 2024, with a new campus designed to reflect its historic legacy.

Policy Backdrop

The emphasis on institutions like Nalanda University and Central Sanskrit University aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which explicitly calls for the integration of classical languages, Indian knowledge systems, and traditional disciplines into mainstream higher education. Central Sanskrit University, a central university under the Ministry of Education, operates campuses across multiple states and offers programmes ranging from Vedic studies to performing arts alongside modern disciplines.

The government has consistently framed these institutions as proof that India's ancient academic traditions are not merely archival but living and evolving. Investments in their infrastructure, faculty, and international partnerships have been cited as part of a broader effort to position India as a global knowledge hub.

Stakeholders and Impact

Students enrolled at both universities stand to benefit from curricula that combine classical texts and languages with modern research methodologies, potentially opening pathways in fields such as Indology, heritage management, linguistics, and philosophy. The revival of Nalanda University in particular carries diplomatic significance, given its historical role as a pan-Asian centre of Buddhist and secular learning — a dimension the government has used to strengthen cultural ties with Southeast Asia and East Asia.

For Bihar, the continued visibility of Nalanda University at the national level reinforces the state's identity as a cradle of ancient civilisation and could support tourism and academic investment in the Rajgir-Bodh Gaya corridor.

What's Next

As Mann Ki Baat reaches a vast radio and digital audience each month, the Prime Minister's focus on these two universities is likely to prompt renewed public and policy attention toward classical-knowledge institutions across India. Observers will watch whether this spotlight translates into additional funding, new academic collaborations, or expanded enrolment drives at Nalanda University and Central Sanskrit University in the months ahead. The broader question is whether India's experiment in merging 'tradition with modernity' at these institutions produces a replicable model for other classical-knowledge universities in the country.