Patna: Bihar has rolled out a digital platform to manage the accreditation of nursing institutions, in a move the state government says will improve transparency, efficiency and educational standards.
The health minister, Mangal Pandey, inaugurated the online system on Wednesday at an event held at Urja Stadium in Shastri Nagar. The platform enables institutions to apply for No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and complete accreditation processes digitally, replacing earlier manual procedures.
Pandey said the digitisation of approvals would help eliminate bureaucratic delays and ensure greater accountability. He added that the move would allow institutions to focus more on improving infrastructure and teaching quality rather than administrative hurdles.
The minister highlighted the rapid expansion of nursing education in the state over the past decade, attributing it to policy interventions under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. Once lacking sufficient training facilities, Bihar now has 656 nursing colleges offering various courses, with a combined approved intake of more than 41,000 seats.
Despite the growth, Pandey stressed that maintaining standards remains critical. “There will be no compromise on quality,” he said, noting that well-trained nurses from Bihar could build careers both nationally and internationally.
Under the new system, institutions are required to upload details of their infrastructure, faculty and facilities onto the portal, making the information accessible to the public. Officials say this is intended to increase transparency and allow prospective students to make more informed choices.
During the event, online NOCs were granted to five nursing institutions, with certificates issued to their management teams.
Lokesh Kumar Singh, secretary of the health department, said the shift to a digital platform would help curb irregularities and improve oversight. He urged institutions to adhere strictly to established norms and prioritise quality in training.
