The new Nalanda University, envisaged as a centre of inter-civilisational dialogue, is also a ‘Net Zero Green Campus’. 

• It is located near the ancient Nalanda ruins and was established under the Nalanda University Act 2010 of Parliament. 
  • The decision at the 2nd East Asia Summit (EAS) in the Philippines (2007) provided the basis to establish NU. 

Ancient Nalanda University 

• Establishment: Founded by Kumargupta I in the 5th century CE and remained a centre of learning till the 12th century CE. 
• Architecture
  • It was a monastic University, a Mahavihara (residential and educational buildings). 
  • It also includes stupas, shrines, and important artworks in stucco, stone and metal.
• Educational Excellence
  • It had students from China, Tibet, Central Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, and various other countries from the southeastern parts of Asia. 
  • Veda, fine arts, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, politics and the art of warfare were major disciplines.
  • Admission to the university was strictly by merit. Exams were conducted by trained gatekeepers. 
• Foreign visitors
  • In the 7th century CE, Chinese scholars I-Qing and Xuan Zang visited Nalanda, then called Nala.
  • Xuan Zang studied yogashastra at Nalanda under Chancellor Shilabhadra, the highest authority in yoga.
• Recognition: It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2016.