The Central University of South Bihar (CUSB) is a public central university located in Gaya, Bihar, India. It was established by an Act of the Parliament of India and is funded by the Government of India through the University Grants Commission (UGC). The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, integrated, and doctoral programmes across the sciences, humanities, social sciences, management, law, and education.
| Name | Central University of South Bihar |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | CUSB |
| Type | Public, central university |
| Established | 2009 |
| Founding statute | Central Universities Act, 2009 |
| Location | Gaya, Bihar, India |
| Country | India |
| Affiliations | University Grants Commission (UGC) |
The university was created as part of a national initiative to set up new central universities in states that did not previously have one. The Central Universities Act, 2009 provided for the establishment of central universities in several Indian states, including Bihar. CUSB was originally constituted as the Central University of Bihar, with its operations beginning in temporary premises before the development of a permanent campus.
The permanent campus of the university is situated in the Gaya district of southern Bihar. Gaya is a historically significant city associated with the Buddhist pilgrimage centre of Bodh Gaya and the Hindu pilgrimage tradition at Vishnupad. The choice of Gaya placed the institution within a region with deep cultural and educational heritage.
The university is organised into schools and departments covering a broad range of disciplines. Common areas of study include:
Programmes include integrated five-year master's courses, two-year master's degrees, and doctoral research, alongside selected undergraduate offerings.
As a central university, CUSB is governed under the framework of the Central Universities Act, 2009. Its statutory authorities include the Visitor (the President of India), the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, the Court, the Executive Council, the Academic Council, and the Finance Committee. The Vice-Chancellor serves as the principal academic and executive officer of the university.
CUSB is one of the central universities established to expand access to higher education in regions that historically had limited central-government higher education infrastructure. It contributes to research and teaching capacity in Bihar and draws students from across India through national entrance examinations such as the CUET.