Bihar Sports University, Rajgir, Now India’s 4th-Best Sports Institute
Bihar Sports University, Rajgir has achieved a major milestone. It has secured 4th place among India’s top 5 sports institutions. What makes it even more exciting is that the Bihar Sports University in Rajgir was just inaugurated nine months and 20 days ago. So, achieving the 4th rank within a year of its inauguration is a very big deal.
According to the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2025, the Bihar Sports University in Rajgir now ranks 4th among India’s top five government sports universities.
Here are the details about the Bihar Sports University’s achievements including its national IIRF 2025 ranking, infrastructure details, UGC recognition, and what we can expect in the future. You can use the following Table of Contents to navigate as per your preference:
Table of Contents
Inaugurated on National Sports Day
The Bihar Sports University was officially inaugurated on 29 August 2024 on the National Sports Day by Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. It was seen as a transformative step for Bihar Sports as this university is Bihar’s first sports university and complex. From the first day of inauguration to this day of gaining recognition among India’s best, the Bihar Sports University is set to become a major sports hub for not only Bihar but for eastern India as well.
IIRF Rankings 2025
The Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) India’s most reliable ranking system, especially meant to evaluate educational institutions on several criteria. It evaluates, compares and ranks over 2500 colleges and universities across India.
So, securing the 4th position among the country’s top government sports universities in the IIRF rankings is a massive success because it includes very stiff competition from well-established and reputed institutions.
Here’s the list of top 5 government sports institutions as per the IIRF 2025 rankings :
- National Sports University, Imphal – 89.99 index score
- Swarnim Gujarat Sports University
- Laxmibai National Institute of Physical Education, Gwalior
- Bihar Sports University, Rajgir – 88.18 index score
- Other state universities trailing behind
Bihar’s rapid progress is getting praised for both its academic and athletic ecosystem.
UGC Recognition For Bihar Sports University
In January 2025, the University Grants Commission (UGC) formally recognized Bihar Sports University, Rajgir. This was crucial for getting approval for full-scale academic programs. After getting UGC recognition, the university started its structured degree and diploma courses in physical education, coaching, sports science, and management which made the university eligible for the IIRF rankings.
With the recognition, now the university is not just functioning as a training centre for athletes but also an academic centre that can produce talented sports individuals – both athletes and educators.
World-Class Facilities at Rajgir Sports University
The Rajgir-based Bihar Sports University has been developed to meet global standards. It hosts world-class infrastructure for over 24 sports disciplines. Facilities such as grounds, synthetic tracks, modern gymnasiums, and hostels for both male and female athletes on campus.
Some of the major sports facilities at the university include:
- Football
- Hockey
- Athletics
- Cricket
- Basketball
- Wrestling
- Swimming
- Gymnastics
Now, athletes will be able to get the exposure and training that was once exclusive to the metros or elite national academies.
Ranking Based on Multiple Parameters
The IIRF ranking system evaluates institutions based on a variety of different factors. Sports universities are evaluated on the following factors :
- Academic excellence
- Quality of research output
- Placement and career opportunities
- Industry and sports body partnerships
- Long-term institutional vision
The Bihar Sports University was ranked 4th because it was consistently performing well on these parameters.
What Does it Mean for Bihar?
For a state like Bihar, which was always lagging behind in sports infrastructure, this is a historic success. The fact that this university is Bihar’s first Sports University, says a lot about how the state was struggling for even basic infrastructure.
Better late than never, it has emerged as the 4th best within a year. This is real progress, because the university is not established in the capital city, Patna, which shows that the decision was made very consciously with the aim of decentralizing growth and development.
The craze for the Rajgir Sports University is already visible. Students and athletes from across Nalanda, Gaya, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, and Purnia have already started enrolling, and taking admissions for the 2025–26 academic year.
The number of enrollments is expected to rise further because of the recent ranking. Teachers will be more enthusiastic and students will get a sense of relief and hope for better placements with world-class infrastructure and training facilities.
Other Bihar Institutions in IIRF Ranking
Interestingly, Central University of South Bihar, located in Gaya, also featured in the IIRF list. However, it was placed at 45th rank, with an index score of 63.08 similar to the university’s ranking last year at 46th position. This highlights the level of Bihar Sports University’s achievement.
It also points to the fact that domain-specific institutions with a clear vision can produce better results in such competitive rankings.
Conclusion
In less than a year, the Bihar Sports University has gone from being a newly established institution to gaining a prestigious spot among the top sports universities in India. Its position in the IIRF rankings 2025 has brought pride not just to Rajgir, but to all of Bihar.
We can expect to see more international matches and tournaments like the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir. The Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 hosted in Rajgir helped the university gain more exposure and recognition.
I’m a final-year engineering student with a deep interest in current affairs, politics, and international issues. Writing news is my part-time passion, where I focus on sharing credible and well-researched stories. Every article I publish is backed by verified sources and multiple levels of fact-checking to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness.
