Page 4 - Bihar Government

Bihar govt hikes monthly pension of retired journos by ₹9K ahead of polls

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced an increase in the pension of retired journalists under the 'Bihar Patrakar Samman' scheme by Rs 9,000 per month. Now, all eligible retired journalists, registered with the Bihar government, will receive Rs 15,000 per month instead of the earlier monthly emolument of Rs 6,000. The decision comes ahead of assembly polls scheduled later this year. Announcing this decision, the CM, in a post on X on Saturday, wrote: "I am pleased to inform that under the 'Bihar Patrakar Samman' pension scheme, instructions have been given to provide a monthly pension of Rs 15,000 instead of Rs 6,000 to all eligible journalists." Additionally, in the event of the death of a journalist receiving pension under the scheme, instructions have been given to provide their dependent/spouse with a lifetime monthly pension of Rs 10,000 instead of the earlier amount of Rs 3,000, he wrote. "Journalists play a crucial role in democracy. They are the fourth pillar of

Bihar failed to submit utilisation reports for ₹70,000 cr projects: CAG

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pulled up the Bihar government for failing to submit utilisation certificates for projects worth Rs 70,877 crore. The report of the CAG on State Finances for the year 2023-24 was tabled in the state assembly on Thursday. "Despite the requirement of submitting UCs within the stipulated time period, 49,649 outstanding UCs of Rs 70,877.61 crore were not received by the Accountant General (Accounts & Entitlements), Bihar, as on March 31, 2024," it said. In the absence of UCs, there is no assurance that funds disbursed have been used for the intended purpose, the report said. "Moreover, high pendency of UCs is fraught with the risk of embezzlement, misappropriation and diversion of funds," it said. Of the total Rs 70,877.61 crore, Rs 14,452.38 crore pertained to the period up to 2016-17. The top five defaulting departments are Panchayati Raj (Rs 28,154.10 crore), Education (Rs 12,623.67 crore), Urban Development (Rs 11,065.50 crore), Rural

'Can't allow dead, migrants, or duplicates on voter rolls', says CEC Kumar

On the face of criticism from Opposition over Bihar voter roll revision, Chief Election Commissioner said that the EC cannot allow names of the deceased and migrants to remain on the voters list

Crimes committed by criminals: Bihar ADG apologises for 'farmers' remark

In a video posted on the official handle of Bihar Police on platform X, Krishnan stated that his comments were misrepresented and that he did not intend to associate farmers with crime

Nearly 95% of Bihar voters covered in electoral roll revision exercise: ECI

According to the ECI, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) will publish the draft Electoral Roll on Friday, August 1 and invite suggestions

Lightning kills 19 in Bihar, CM Nitish Kumar announces ₹4,00,000 ex-gratia

The Bihar government has appealed to the public to stay indoors and stay safe during bad weather conditions

576,000 Bihar electors enrolled at multiple places, 1.2 mn dead: ECI data

According to the EC data, enumeration forms of over 86.32 per cent electors have been collected so far

Bihar CM launches projects worth ₹21,406 cr to improve rural connectivity

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday launched projects worth Rs 21,406.36 crore under the Rural Works Department (RWD), marking a major step toward improving rural connectivity across the state. The projects include the construction of 11,346 roads and 730 small bridges. The CM virtually inaugurated the projects during a function held at his official residence at 1, Anne Marg, here. According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), "It is worth noting that under the Rural Roads Strengthening and Management Programme, a new component, Mukhyamantri Gramin Sadak Unnayan Yojana, was launched in 2024. Under this programme, construction of 5,047 roads (total length of 8,893 km) commenced on Thursday, with a total approved cost of Rs 6,198 crore. Additionally, foundation stones were laid for 4,079 roads (total length of 6,484 km), with a total approved cost of Rs 5,627 crore". Through the Mukhyamantri Gramin Setu Yojana, the previously implemented Mukhyamantri

Bihar CM releases first instalment of hiked pension to 10 mn beneficiaries

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday disbursed the first instalment of the hiked pension amount of Rs 1,100 per month to the bank accounts of 1.11 crore beneficiaries, including senior citizens, widows and people with disabilities. Over Rs 1,227 crore was credited under six different pension schemes during a function here, officials said. The Bihar government had on June 24 increased the pension amount from Rs 400 per month to Rs 1,100. The elderly are an important part of society and ensuring a dignified life for them is top priority of our government. It will continue to make efforts in this direction. We will ensure that this amount is disbursed on the 10th of every month, Kumar said on the occasion. The Bihar government is also committed to the overall development of women in the state, he said. Our government has been consistently working towards the empowerment and welfare of women. We have set an example in terms of women's empowerment by prioritising their educatio

SC refuses to stay Bihar voter list revision, urges ECI to allow Aadhaar

SC urges ECI to consider Aadhaar cards, EPIC (electoral photo identity) cards, ration card as ID proof; seeks response by July 21, next hearing scheduled for July 28

'Aadhaar not a proof of citizenship', ECI tells SC amid Bihar roll row

SC hears pleas against Bihar voter roll revision; ECI says Aadhaar not proof of citizenship as Bench questions timing and risk of disenfranchising voters ahead of upcoming elections

Bihar Police admit card out for July 16 exam; download at csbc.bihar.gov.in

CSBC released the Bihar Police Constable Admit Card 2025 on July 9. Candidates can download it from the official website, csbc.bihar.gov.in, using their login details

Opportunist govt destroyed law and order in Bihar: Kharge takes dig at NDA

Taking to X, Kharge highlighted the rising crime in the state, noting yesterday's Purnia witchcraft murder case and the murders of businessmen in the state

EC should take cognisance of violent incidents in Bihar: Mayawati

BSP chief Mayawati on Monday said the Election Commission should take cognisance of incidents of violence in Bihar, including the murder of Patna-based businessman Gopal Khemka, for the conduct of peaceful elections in the state. In a post on X, she spoke about the "deteriorating" law and order situation in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls laster this year. "The recent sensational murder of Gopal Khemka, a prominent industrialist and leader of the ruling party BJP, in Patna, has heated up the politics of the state in a new way," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said. "If the Election Commission takes cognisance of this bloodshed and appropriate action right now, it will be better for conducting peaceful elections," she said. Khemka was shot dead by an unidentified armed assailant outside his house in Gandhi Maidan locality of Patna on Friday as he was about to alight from his car. His mortal remains were consigned to flames at Gulbi Ghat in Patna on Sunday. A large number

Prominent Patna businessman Gopal Khemka shot dead, Oppn says 'Jungle Raj'

A special investigation team headed by the Patna Central SP has been set up to probe the murder, which took place late Friday night in the Gandhi Maidan area

Why Bihar's voter list update has sparked fears of disenfranchisement

A special revision of Bihar's electoral rolls has triggered a political storm, with concerns over voter deletion, citizenship proof, and impact on the poor and marginalised

Bihar govt launches paid internship scheme to support youth employment

The Bihar government on Tuesday launched the 'Mukhya Mantri Pratigya' scheme to provide financial support to youths for carrying out internship programmes after clearing their class 12 board examination. The decision to launch the paid internship program, which aims to address youth unemployment and enhance industry readiness among students, was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday. "The Cabinet approved the 'Mukhya Mantri Pratigya' scheme on Tuesday. Under the scheme, youths aged between 18 and 28, having either trained under skill development programme or those who have passed Class 12 Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) diploma, graduate and post-graduate will get financial support for availing internship training," Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat) S Siddhartha said. The youths during their internship programme will be given financial support for a period ranging from three months to 12 months. Those who have cleared the .

Bihar govt hands over appointment letters for more than 21,000 police jobs

More than 21,000 newly recruited police personnel in Bihar on Saturday received their appointment letters at a function here, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the state now has the "highest number of women in uniform". The chief minister said no other state has as many women (in the police force) as Bihar. "I have asked the DGP to finalise the recruitment of another 55,000 personnel at the earliest. We want to raise the strength of our police force to 2.29 lakh," the CM said. Altogether 21,391 fresh recruits, including 11,178 women and 10,205 men, were given their letters of appointment at an auditorium here where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary and DGP Vinay Kumar were among those present. "We came to power in November 2005 and at that time the strength of Bihar Police was just 51,000. Now, the government is committed to increasing the strength of the Police force to 2.29 lakh, and our government has substantially increased the strength of women

Rs 20,000 cr spent so far on PM Modi's rallies in Bihar, claims Tejashwi

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday continued with his "pickpocket" jibe, claiming that a staggering Rs 20,000 crore has been spent on rallies addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar so far. The BJP also sharpened its counter-attack, with posters being put up across the state capital bearing the slogan "Mera baap chaara chor, mujhe vote do" (my father stole fodder meant for cattle, vote for me), belittling the leader of the opposition who leads the INDIA bloc in the upcoming assembly polls. The young leader, who had a day ago raised the hackles of the ruling NDA by alleging that exorbitant ticket fares of Vande Bharat made Modi look like a "pocketmaar" (pickpocket), used the expression again in a stinging social media post. He alleged that rallies of Modi in Bihar, since 2014, have cost "Rs 100 crore each" and there have been "200 such public meetings" so far. "So the total amount splurged during the period, which has also seen five elections (three Lok Sabha and two .

ED conducts fresh searches in Bihar govt tenders' irregularities case

The Enforcement Directorate has conducted fresh searches in a money laundering case linked to an alleged contractor-bureaucrats nexus in Bihar where purported irregularities were detected in the tenders issued by the state government. The raids were conducted at nine locations in Patna and Muzaffarpur (Bihar), Surat (Gujrarat) and Panipat (Haryana) on Thursday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the case linked to Patna-based contractor Rishu Shree, the federal probe agency said in a statement. Several "incriminating" evidence and documents were seized during the raids that were carried out against some people and travel agents "connected" to the contractor, it said. The money laundering case stems from an FIR registered by the special vigilance unit (SVU) of Bihar government against Rishu Shree and others. The companies of the contractor take contracts and sub-contracts in various Bihar government departments like water resources, health, public health engineeri