PATNA, July 4 -- After a long spell of ad-hocism, Raj Bhawan appointed Prof Upendra Prasad Singh as new V-C of Pataliputra University on Thursday. The notification was issued soon after CM Nitish Kumar went to the Raj Bhawan for consultation with governor Arif Mohammad Khan, who is chancellor of universities. "In exercise of power vested under the Bihar Universities Act, 1976 and after meaningful consultation with the state government on the panel submitted by the search committee, the Chancellor has been pleased to appoint Upendra Prasad Singh as V-C of Pataliputra University for a period of three years," said the Raj Bhawan notification signed by Eobert L Chongthu, principal secretary to the governor. Singh, who was earlier principal of TPS College for 7.5 years and superannuated on May 31, said he would take charge on Friday. He is the first regular V-C of the university from Bihar, as two previous incumbents were from UP. Pataliputra University is one of the three universities that Nitish Kumar government had formed in 2018 with the objective of improving the higher education scenario in the state, but all three wobbled along the way. "Pataliputra University was set up as a dream project of the CM and I will strive to bring it on track. The university will run as per Act and statute. I will try to ensure all facilities to students, teachers and employees. The university campus is also getting ready in Baktiarpur and it is scheduled to shift there in January 2027," he added. Since January 15, Pataliputra University has been without a regular V-C and during the less than six-month period, it has seen two V-Cs, holding additional charge. On January 9 this year, Raj Bhawan appointed V-Cs in four state universities, while the interaction for Pataliputra University was completed a couple of months ago....