The Legislature-Parliament on Thursday endorsed a billto set up a multi-disciplinary university in Province 2.

The House unanimously endorsed the bill to set up Rajarshi Janak (RJ) University in Dhanusha which was pending in the Parliament for more than two years. The university will be set up in ancient city Janakpur—a major hub in the province. This will be the eighth full-fledged university and 12th if the deemed universities are also taken into account. The autonomous Health Academies are considered the deemed universities. Parliament had passed the bill to set up Rapti Academy of Health Sciences on Tuesday.

Thursday’s endorsement allows Ramsworup Ramsagar Multiple College in Janakpur to be converted into RJ University once authenticated by the President. 

With that all the provinces will now have once universities each. Three universities—Mid Western, Far Western and Agriculture and Forestry—universities were established in 2010.

The new varsity will be set up in Janakpur—the constituency of Nepali Congress leader Bimalendra Nidhi, who was the minister for local development when the bill was introduced.

“Over two decades of effort has finally been materialised,” said Nidhi during deliberation in the House. “This will bring about a huge progress in the academic sector in the province.” 

The newly-approved Act says the government-funded university will be focused on providing education in arts, science, agriculture, medicine and law. 

The bill on RJ University was introduced in the House along with the bill on Nepalgunj University in July 2015 by the Sushil-Koirala led government. However, the Nepalgunj University could not progress through the House.