Maharaja Bir Bikram University was established on November 1, 2015 through Maharaja Bir Bikram University Act, 2015 (Act No. 6 of 2015), passed by the Tripura Legislative Assembly. The ‘Maharaja Bir Bikram University Bill, 2015 (The Tripura Bill No. 1 of 2015) was introduced on February 9, 2015 in the Tripura Legislative Assembly and referred to the Select Committee on February 13, 2015. It was passed by the Tripura Legislative Assembly on August 10, 2015 and got the assent of the Honourable Governor on September 15, 2015. It is the only State University of Tripura and is empowered to award degrees as specified by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956. The University is also recognised by UGC under 12B on September 23, 2020. This University has been named in the memory of the last king of Tripura, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur of Manikya Dynasty.
The kings of Tripura pioneered & contributed immensely for the upliftment & advancement of educational scenario of Tripura. He is considered to be the father of modern architecture in Tripura as the entire planning of present-day Tripura was initiated under his supervision. He also pioneered land reforms, set up of country’s first municipality, built the first airport of Tripura and took initiatives for tribal welfare and development of indigenous people of Tripura. King Bir Bikram launched the Vidyapattanam project in the premises of College Tilla. It was a landmark in the history of education in Tripura. Under this project, Maharaja Bir Bikram College, the first degree college of Tripura, was established in 1947. The area of this Vidyapattanam project at College Tilla was 234 acres in 1947, consisting of at present Maharaja Bir Bikram University and its three affiliated colleges namely Maharaja Bir Bikram College, Bir Bikram Memorial College and Tripura Government Law College. Maharaja Bir Bikram University is having lush green campus of 19.1398 acres. The University started with four Departments, namely Public Administration, Bachelor of Library and Information Science, Applied Mathematics and English in 2016 with young faculties. Maharaja Bir Bikram University introduced Master in Library & Information Science (MLISc) in the year 2020 and M.A. in History in self-finance mode in the year 2022. Nomenclature of Public Administration and Applied Mathematics was changed to Department of Political Science and Department of Mathematics respectively from 2021-2022 academic session.
The University believes in academic collaboration with other institutions and is running Integrated Master Degree in Chemistry and Commerce from 2020 in MBB College and BBM College, College Tilla respectively. The University is enriched with manuscripts, old books donated by local people. The construction of Open Air Theatre is in progress. The University got selected under PM-USHA scheme to receive sanction of Rs. 20 crores as a mark of emerging academic institution in the North-East India.
Maharaja Bir Bikram University is located at College Tilla (formerly known as Rashmon Tilla during Princely days) in the lap of lush greenery of capital city Agartala, Tripura. It is indeed an ideal place with panoramic beauty surrounded by lakes which not only compels to explore the region but also helps to reduce the monotony of routine academic life. Overall, the location of the University has a unique ambience which gives a perception to build up positive attitude and keen concentration among students. The location of the University can be connected or reached by any medium from any parts of the state. Beside, Tripura is connected with the rest of the country by air route through Agartala Airport via Kolkata, Guwahati and also by railway connectivity through Agartala Railway Station via Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi etc. The approximate distance from Agartala Airport to MBB University is about 10 km.
There are 25 general degree colleges in Tripura and approximately 25,000 students take admission in the under graduate degree programmes every year. Out of which, a major part of those students wish to opt for Post-Graduation programmes. Before 2015, Tripura University (A Central University) was their only option. The establishment of MBB University extended the higher educational opportunities to the aspiring students who wish to go for higher education after completing their under graduate degree programme.
With the motto of Ideas, Imagination and Innovations the University is working towards realization of the dream of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur to make it an ‘Abode of Learning’.