Transforming Bihar through education, innovation, and entrepreneurship: An exclusive conversation with Prof. Dr. Rana Singh

The conversation explores several key topics, including why students admire good teachers but rarely aspire to become one. It also discusses how Bihar is utilizing technology, such as drones and AI, to enhance agriculture. Additionally, the dialogue highlights the need for management education to evolve in the digital age and emphasizes the growing strength of startups and MSMEs in Bihar through structured support. With a strong emphasis on Bihar's transformation by 2047, this interview provides a compelling look at progress driven by purpose.

Q. Why do most students want good teachers, but few want to become one?

It’s a profound observation. Whenever I ask students who among them wants a great teacher, every hand goes up. But when I ask who wants to become a great teacher, barely one or two respond—sometimes even by mistake. This tells us about the gap in aspiration. Teaching is not seen as aspirational, yet it is the foundation of nation-building. Through teaching, one can not only shape individuals but also influence societies, districts, states, and even the nation at large.

Q2: What inspired you to choose education as your life’s work?

My exposure to globally respected scholars and international educators gave me clarity early on. Education is the only domain that allows us to continuously upgrade our knowledge, transform generations, and contribute meaningfully to social upliftment. It isn’t just about transferring knowledge—it's about nation-building.

Q. What steps is Bihar taking toward technological transformation, especially in agriculture?

Bihar is making bold strides. The state is now embracing disruptive technologies like drones, AI, and machine learning to optimize agricultural productivity. For example, Drones are used to spray pesticides uniformly and safely, reducing both costs and health risks. New startups like Vamnika Aerospace are leveraging aerospace tech to revolutionize farming practices. The Agricultural Roadmap, backed by NITI Aayog, has designated Bihar Agricultural University as a nodal body under the Purvodaya Scheme, focusing on crops like makhana, banana, and litchi with GI tags. This shows a clear shift from traditional methods to high-tech, cost-effective solutions for farmers.

Q. What role does CIMP play in Bihar’s transformation?

CIMP is deeply embedded in Bihar’s development journey. We are:

• Training civil servants and government officials through capacity-building programs.
• Collaborating with the Department of Planning and Development, helping implement data-driven strategy rooms for efficient governance.
• Acting as an incubator and accelerator, supporting over 300 startups, with more than 175 incubatees housed at our Patna facility.
• Our ultimate goal is to build a knowledge-based, innovation-driven ecosystem that empowers local talent and strengthens governance.

Q. How are MSMEs and local brands being supported for market access and branding?

Branding and market reach are critical for Bihar’s MSMEs. We developed a comprehensive 500-page project proposal with the Department of Industries, leading to a ₹135 crore fund allocation for Bihar under the MSME scheme. Key initiatives include:

• Capacity-building workshops on branding, packaging, and digital marketing.
• Entrepreneurship development programs, especially under the Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana, where over 5000 entrepreneurs have been trained.
• Turnkey incubation services, from ideation to investor matchmaking.

Our goal is to ensure that products made in Bihar find not just a local but a national and global market.

Q. How are education and management fields adapting to rapid digital transformation?

We are living in times where traditional marketing is being replaced by digital marketing, content creation, influencer strategies, and data analytics. Education can’t stay behind. At CIMP, we emphasize upskilling—whether it’s through finance, IT, or strategy. Faculty and students are trained in emerging tools such as AI, Hadoop, Big Data, and predictive analytics. Collaboration with industry ensures our programs stay future-proof. The world is evolving and so must our approach to education.

Q. What is your vision for Bihar 2047?

Bihar must no longer be viewed through the lens of the past. Through institutional reforms, technological integration, and grassroots empowerment, we can realize the vision of a Developed Bihar by 2047, aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 mission.

The roadmap includes:

1. Industrial transformation,
2. Human resource development,
3. Agricultural modernization,
4. Governance reforms.

We want Bihar to rise from being perceived as a laggard to becoming a leader among the Purvodaya states.

Q. What keeps you personally motivated in this journey?

A simple philosophy: “A human being becomes an average of the five people they spend the most time with.” I always seek the company of scholars, innovators, and visionaries. We must keep learning, adapting, and pushing boundaries. Life is a race—not a parking space.

We are descendants of the land that gave the world zero, Ayurveda, and Takshashila. If we aim to make India a global education hub again, we must rebuild that legacy.