Education in the field of agriculture in the state of Bihar was started in the year 1945 when the Bihar Agricultural College was established at the district of Bhaglapur. Later, it was realized that the agricultural situation of Southern Bihar is different from the other parts of Bihar, so a second college in Bihar for the southern region was set up with the name of Ranchi Agricultural College in the year 1955. Later in the year 1971, the first agricultural university called as Rajendra Agricultural University was established in the region of Pusa. The need for another agricultural university in Bihar was felt as a result of which Birsa Agricultural University was established in the year 1981 on the 26th of June and it was inaugurated by Smt. Indira Gandhi. The list of colleges coming under the jurisdiction of this university is given below:

• Ranchi Agricultural College

• Ranchi College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry

• Faculty of Forestry College

• College of Bio-Technology

• Centre for Agri-Business Management

Birsa Agricultural University was established with the objective of developing technologies specific to the local area and human resources in the streams of forestry, animal husbandry and agriculture for the agricultural development of the local area and for the upliftment of the backward and tribal people living in the area. The university is offering education under three faculties namely Veterinary Sciences & animal husbandry, Forestry and agriculture through 35 departments. Since the university is a residential university, hostel facilities for girls, boys, support staff and teachers are provided in its campus. The university is offering several UG, PG, certificate/diploma and doctoral courses through its affiliated colleges under the faculties of agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry. The university campus is loaded with several facilities like computer centre, library, guesthouse, training & placement cell, students’ welfare association, etc…