Patna: In a major shift towards efficiency and transparency, all the universities of Bihar are set to launch an e-governance initiative with the implementation of the Samarth ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system from the academic session 2026-27. This strategic move by the state education department marks a pivotal moment in the state universities’ pursuit of modern governance practices.The initiative, backed by the ministry of education in India, aims to streamline academic and administrative processes digitally. The Samarth platform offers a comprehensive suite of software modules designed to streamline administrative processes and enhance operational efficiency.According to state higher education director N K Agrawal, governance in the digital age necessitates the integration of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to facilitate interactive engagement between organisations and their stakeholders. Samarth ERP emerges as a beacon of progress, offering a comprehensive platform that not only harnesses technology but also fosters active participation from employees and students, he said.Agrawal said many central and state universities across the country have already implemented or are in the process of implementing the Samarth portal. States like Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Jammu and Kashmir have plans for a full-scale transition to make Samarth the exclusive system for all their affiliated higher education institutions. The higher education institutions of Bihar had been instructed last year itself to shift all their official transactions, including admissions, examinations and financial work, from manual mode to digital mode through the Samarth portal. Accordingly, the universities have started the process of admission of students in the four-year bachelor programmes through this platform in the 2026-27 session, he said.It may be mentioned here the e-Samarth portal (Samarth eGov Suite) is an open-source, cloud-based ERP automation engine that enables digital management of student admissions, academic records, faculty tasks and finance. It facilitates:Student services: Online admissions, registrations and digital ID card generationAcademic management: Course management, curriculum planning and student lifecycle managementEmployee services: Faculty and staff can manage personal details; apply for leave, track research and access trainingAdministration: Automating administrative workflows to reduce manual paperwork and improve efficiency.University governance: Real-time monitoring and reporting of institutional data for informed decision-making
