Population and literacy figures below are from the 2011 Census, the most recent full census data available. Where sources disagree, we say so rather than picking the most flattering number. Institutional details were compiled on 30 August 2026.
Kosi division is one of Bihar's nine administrative divisions, made up of three districts — Saharsa, Madhepura and Supaul — with Saharsa town serving as divisional headquarters.
It is named for the Kosi river, and the river explains a great deal about the division: recurring floods, shifting channels, and settlement patterns that make school attendance and administrative access harder here than in much of the state.
The three districts by the numbers
| District | Population (2011) | Literacy rate (2011) |
|---|---|---|
| Saharsa | 1,897,102 | 54.57% (male 65.22%, female 42.73%) |
| Madhepura | 2,001,762 | 53.78% |
| Supaul | 2,229,076 | figures vary between sources — see note |
Taken together the three districts account for roughly 6.1 million people.
A note on Supaul's literacy figure: values quoted online for Supaul range widely, including some well above the neighbouring districts, which is not consistent with the surrounding data. We have not been able to reconcile these, so we are not publishing a number we cannot stand behind. You will also see a Kosi division population of over 12 million quoted in places — that does not match the sum of the three district populations, and appears to be an error propagated between sites.
The number that matters most
Of everything on this page, one figure deserves attention: female literacy in Saharsa stood at 42.73% against 65.22% for men — a gap of more than twenty-two percentage points.
That gap is the reason schemes like Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana exist, and it is the reason they matter more here than almost anywhere else in India. A girl in this division completing graduation is doing something that, statistically, most women around her did not have the chance to do.
It is also why unclaimed scheme money in this division is not a minor administrative problem. It is the difference between a girl continuing her education and not.
Read the Kanya Utthan Yojana guide →
Higher education: BN Mandal University
Higher education across all three districts runs through Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University (BNMU), a state university at Laloo Nagar, Madhepura, established on 10 January 1992. Its jurisdiction covers Madhepura, Saharsa and Supaul — which means that for most students in the division, BNMU is higher education.
This matters practically. Scholarship applications, bonafide certificates, marksheet issues and the university data uploads that several schemes depend on all route through one institution. When BNMU is slow, the whole division is slow.
Constituent colleges
| District | Colleges |
|---|---|
| Saharsa | M.L.T. College · S.N.S.R.K.S. College · R. Jha Mahila College · R.M. College · R.M.M. Law College · M.H.M. College, Sonbarsa |
| Madhepura | T.P. College · B.N.M.V. College, Sahugarh · K.P. College, Murliganj · H.S. College, Udakishunganj |
| Supaul | B.S.S. College · H.P.S. College, Nirmali · L.N.M.S. College, Birpur |
Alongside these, BNMU has a number of affiliated colleges across the region. If you are applying for a scholarship, note that whether your college is constituent or affiliated can affect how fee reimbursement is treated — check with your institution rather than assuming.
School education
School education in the division runs through the Bihar School Examination Board for classes 10 and 12, with district education offices in each district headquarters handling registration, admit cards and corrections at the local level.
Saharsa district comprises 10 development blocks. Block-level offices matter more than students expect: the RTPS counters that issue income and residence certificates — the documents behind almost every scholarship application — operate at block level, not district level.
Official district resources
- Saharsa — saharsa.nic.in (welfare section)
- Madhepura — madhepura.nic.in
- Supaul — supaul.nic.in
- BN Mandal University — bnmu.ac.in
Frequently asked questions
Which districts are in Kosi division?
Saharsa, Madhepura and Supaul. Saharsa town is the divisional headquarters, and the three districts together account for roughly 6.1 million people according to the 2011 Census.
Which university covers Saharsa, Madhepura and Supaul?
Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University (BNMU), based at Laloo Nagar in Madhepura and established in January 1992. Its jurisdiction covers all three Kosi division districts.
What is the literacy rate in Kosi division?
Saharsa recorded 54.57% and Madhepura 53.78% in the 2011 Census, both below the state and national averages. Figures quoted for Supaul vary widely between sources and we have not published one we cannot verify.
Why does the female literacy gap matter for scholarships?
Female literacy in Saharsa was 42.73% against 65.22% for men in 2011. That gap is the reason schemes targeted at girl students exist, and it is why unclaimed scheme money in this division has real consequences for whether girls continue their education.
The bottom line
Kosi division is one of the parts of Bihar where education schemes matter most and reach least. The barriers are rarely eligibility — they are distance, paperwork, and simply not knowing a scheme exists.
That gap between entitlement and awareness is the reason this site exists.
Have more accurate or current local data — block lists, college details, office contacts? Send it to us. We would rather publish verified local information than repeat what everyone else has copied.