In a ceremony marked by political symbolism and high-profile attendance, Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar on November 20 took oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a historic tenth time.

The swearing-in at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan — a venue steeped in the state’s political history — was witnessed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and senior leaders of the ruling NDA.

Alongside Kumar, BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers, formally setting the stage for the coalition government’s next tenure.

Below is a look at the educational qualifications of Bihar’s top ministers for 2025:

Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister

Nitish Kumar’s academic journey began in the government schools of Bakhtiyarpur before he enrolled at the then–Bihar Engineering College.

He graduated in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, an institution that has since been upgraded to the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Patna.

During his college years, Kumar was an active participant in technical clubs and campus projects. He briefly worked with the Bihar State Electricity Board, but his inclination toward public life drew him into politics.

NIT Patna itself carries a long legacy — originally established in 1886 as the Pleaders’ Survey Training School, it became the Bihar College of Engineering in 1924 and was rechristened NIT Patna in 2004. In the NIRF 2025 Engineering Rankings, the institute secured the 53rd position with a score of 53.89.

Samrat Choudhary, Deputy Chief Minister

Samrat Choudhary, one of the two newly appointed deputy CMs, lists a Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) from the California Public University, USA, as his highest qualification. The university’s School of Arts and Humanities offers the D.Litt. degree, typically awarded for advanced scholarly contribution.

Vijay Kumar Sinha, Deputy Chief Minister

Vijay Kumar Sinha holds a Diploma in Civil Engineering from the Government Polytechnic, Barauni, Begusarai, completed in 1989. Before rising through the political ranks, Sinha’s technical training shaped his early professional years.