Bihar Rebrands Model Schools as Saraswati Vidya Niketan Amid Costly Repainting Orders
The Bihar government has mandated that 551 model schools adopt the name Saraswati Vidya Niketan and apply a 'sunrise' color scheme to their exteriors. School administrators report significant expenditure to meet the deadline, often overriding painting work completed only weeks prior.
Key takeaways
- Bihar is renaming all 551 block-level model schools to Saraswati Vidya Niketan under a new government directive.
- Schools are mandated to use a specific 'sunrise' color scheme, with some institutions spending up to ₹12 lakh on the transition.
- Administrators expressed concern over repainting buildings that had already received fresh coats of paint just weeks prior.
- Funding for the rebranding is being sourced from school development funds collected through student admission fees.
The Policy Shift
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced on July 19, 2026, a comprehensive rebranding initiative for the state’s 551 model schools. Under this directive, educational facilities catering to classes 9 through 12 across all Bihar blocks must adopt the name Saraswati Vidya Niketan. Alongside the name change, the Bihar State Educational Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (BSIEDC) issued specific color guidelines requiring 'sunrise' exterior walls and 'chocolate brown' borders.
Fiscal Impact and Implementation
The transition has forced school administrators to navigate rapid renovation cycles. At B.P. Inter School in Begusarai, a facility established in 1888, Principal Kamini Kumari noted that the building had been freshly painted just days before the new order arrived. The school, which serves 2,900 students, utilized nearly 50 workers to apply the new color scheme ahead of a official visit by the Chief Minister and Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari. Total costs for the repaint at this location reached approximately ₹12 lakh.
District Education Officer Manoj Kumar confirmed that despite the logistical challenges, work is progressing across all 18 blocks of Begusarai. Funding for these aesthetic changes is being drawn from school development funds, which are typically accumulated through fees ranging from ₹25 to ₹30 per student admission. In Vaishali district, Senduari Model School Principal Krishna Kant Roy reported spending roughly ₹1 lakh to cover a sky-blue coat applied only two weeks earlier.
Internal Feedback
The directive has sparked internal debate regarding resource allocation. An anonymous teacher suggested that the funds directed toward repainting could have significantly increased student access to technology, such as expanding computer labs from 10 to 50 units. While administrators like Roy acknowledge the obligation to follow departmental guidelines, retired educators have noted that the new 'sunrise' hue—which some observers link to the visual identity of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party—departs from the traditional white, pink, or sky-blue palettes previously used in the state.
Key Facts
- The rebranding affects 551 model schools located across 38 districts in Bihar.
- BSIEDC guidelines specify Asian Paint codes: 0526 for walls and Chocolate Brown Enamel for borders.
- School development funds are being utilized to finance the repainting costs.
- The name change to Saraswati Vidya Niketan applies to all block-level model schools serving grades 9-12.
- Implementation timelines were aggressive, with some schools completing work in three days to meet official visit schedules.
Source: The Hindu — National
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