The Nalanda Open University (NOU) was established in March 1987 by an ordinance passed by Government of Bihar. The university is named after the famous Nalanda University of Ancient India. The Nalanda Open University is the only university in the state Bihar which provides education exclusively through the system of distance education. In 1995, the Bihar Legislature passed the Nalanda Open University Act, which replaced the ordinance passed earlier.
The university functions from its campus office at Biscomaun Bhawan at Patna. The University is recognised by the Distance Education Council (DEC), University Grants Commission, and Ministry of HRD, Government of India for imparting education through distance mode.
(DOU 23082007)