Page 5 - Bihar Government

PM Modi flags off 4 trains, launches projects worth Rs 13,500 cr for Bihar

The four new trains are Amrit Bharat express between Saharsa and Mumbai, Namo Bharat Rapid rail between Jaynagar and Patna and trains between Pipra and Saharsa and Saharsa and Samastipur

Centre approves over Rs 2K crore for MGNREGA wage payments in Bihar

The Centre on Saturday sanctioned the release of Rs 2,102.24 crore to Bihar for the payment of the first installment of funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the financial year 2025-26. The amount will be used to pay the wages of MGNREGA labourers in the state. A letter to this effect was issued by the Union Ministry of Rural Development from New Delhi. Commenting on it, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said, "The development comes barely five days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar. The NDA government is committed to the welfare of MGNREGA workers. To pay the wages of MGNREGA labourers, the Centre has approved the release of Rs 2,102.24 crore as the first installment. We thank the PM for it." Out of the total sanctioned fund, Rs 411.47 crore will be distributed among SC labourers, Rs 438.9 for ST labourers and Rs 164 crore for Other Class workers. The arrears of MNREGA workers will also be paid after ..

Storm, lightning kill 22 in Bihar's Nalanda; CM announces ₹4 lakh ex-gratia

Of the total casualties, 21 people died as a result of the thunderstorm, while one person succumbed to injuries caused by lightning, the DM said

Big perk bonanza: Bihar govt clears 30% pay hike for MoS, deputy ministers

Bihar Cabinet has approves 30 per cent hike in salaries, allowances for ministerial-equivalent roles; and gave nods creation of 26,000 government posts, including three new health directorates

River Ganga pollution: SC stays NGT order imposing Rs 50,000 cost on Bihar

The Supreme Court has stayed the National Green Tribunal order that imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on the Bihar government for non-compliance of its directives and not properly assisting it in a matter relating to the prevention and control of pollution of river Ganga. In its order passed on October 15 last year, the tribunal had also directed Bihar's chief secretary to remain present before it virtually to apprise it about the progress made for the prevention and control of pollution in river Ganga. The state government's plea challenging the tribunal's order came up for a hearing before a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih. The bench issued notice to the Centre and others seeking their responses on the plea within four weeks. "Until further orders, there shall be stay of the impugned order," the bench said in its order passed on Friday. The tribunal is considering the issue of prevention and control of pollution of river Ganga and the matter is being taken up ..

Over 260K workers in Bihar did not get funds under Covid Special Grant: CAG

Over 2.6 lakh construction workers in Bihar did not receive funds amounting to Rs 52.02 crore under the COVID Special Grant Scheme due to technical issues, a Comptroller and Auditor General of India report said. The CAG's performance and compliance audit report of the Bihar government for the year that ended on March 31, 2022 was tabled in the state assembly on Tuesday. It also stated that 3,02,476 construction workers were deprived of annual medical assistance amounting to Rs 90.75 crore, while budget provision of Rs 4,134.21 crore had not been utilised by the state universities, and that Bihar was deprived of World Bank assistance amounting to Rs 476.90 crore under the Neer Nirmal Pariyojna. "The state government framed the Bihar Building and Other Construction Workers Rules (BBOCW Rules) after a delay of nine years. The Bihar Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (BBOCWB) had been constituted after a delay of 28 months," it said. Further, the Board and the State

Datanomics: Challenges galore as Bihar celebrates foundation day

Bihar's per capita income was one-tenth of Sikkim, which was the top state in 2023-24

Bihar Assembly sees war of words over Nitish 'insulting' national anthem

War of words between the ruling and opposition MLAs over Bihar Chief Nitish Kumar allegedly "insulting" the national anthem rocked the assembly on Friday. As the proceedings began, opposition members trooped into the Well with placards and raised slogans, demanding an "unconditional apology" from Kumar. Some members also demanded the resignation of the CM, alleging that he insulted the national anthem at an event on Thursday. Despite repeated requests from Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav that they could raise the issue during the Zero Hour, the protests went on. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary also intervened, stating that the government can give its reply on the issue but it should be raised as per the existing provisions. As the opposition MLAs refused to budge, the speaker adjourned the House till 2 pm. At the inaugural ceremony of Sepak Takraw World Cup 2025 at the Pataliputra Sports Complex on Thursday, the CM left cabinet colleagues and officials flummoxed w

Severe groundwater contamination found in 30K rural wards in Bihar: Report

Bihar is grappling with severe groundwater contamination, with 30,207 rural wards exposed to "unsafe" drinking water that poses serious health risks, according to a new report. The report, which was recently tabled in the assembly as part of the Bihar Economic Survey (2024-25), highlighted the presence of arsenic in groundwater in 4,709 such wards, fluoride in 3,789 wards and iron in 21,709 wards. "Around 26 per cent of the rural wards in 31 districts, out of a total of 38, have groundwater sources affected by arsenic, fluoride and iron contamination beyond permissible limits," the state's Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) said in the study. The affected wards are located in Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Lakhisarai, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagara, Munger, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Nalanda, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Jamui, Banka, Supaul, Madhepura, Saharsa, Araria and Kishanganj districts. We are aware of the fact... ..

Bihar to provide electricity to 285K farmers for agri activities by June

Around 2.85 lakh more farmers in Bihar are set to get electricity connections for agricultural activities by June this year, officials said. So far, 5.55 lakh farmers in the state have already received electricity connections through agricultural feeders, they said. By June 2025... around 2.85 lakh more farmers, who have already applied for agricultural electricity connections, will be provided connections, a statement issued by the state's Information and Public Public Relations Department (IPRD) said. Upon the direction of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the state's energy department is working to ensure the remaining farmers receive agricultural electricity connections at the earliest, it said. The CM has consistently emphasised the significance of renewable energy, referring to it as real energy'. As part of the Jal Jeevan Hariyali scheme launched in 2019, he has called for comprehensive efforts to expand solar energy adoption. The energy department has begun implementing measure

NDA govt burden on Bihar, should be scrapped like old vehicles: Tejashwi

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday mocked the BJP-led NDA government in Bihar, asserting that time has come to change the two-decade-old dispensation, much like 15-year-old vehicles are banned in the state for spreading pollution. Yadav also said that the state government has now become a burden on the people of Bihar. The 20-year-old NDA government in Bihar, headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has now turned into a rickety vehicle. There is a ban on vehicles that are more than 15 years old across Bihar as they emit too much smoke, increase pollution and are harmful to the public. Therefore, why should the 20-year-old rickety NDA government be allowed to operate in the state? This government has become a burden on the people of Bihar it must be changed, the Leader of the Opposition in the assembly said in a post on X. Yadav claimed that over the past 20 years, the Nitish Kumar-led government has spread the deadly pollution of poverty, unemployment, corruption, crime and ...

Bihar's economy has increased to Rs 8.54 trn in 2023-24: Dy CM Choudhary

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Friday said the size of the state's economy at current prices has increased 3.5 times, from Rs 2.47 lakh crore in 2011-12 to Rs 8.54 lakh crore in 2023-24. Choudhary who holds the Finance portfolio tabled the Bihar Economic Survey report for 2024-25 in the state assembly on the opening day of the budget session on Friday. "Bihar has witnessed significant economic growth over the last two decades, resulting in notable improvements in several socio-economic indicators. The size of Bihar's economy at current prices has increased 3.5 times, rising from Rs 2.47 lakh crore in 2011-12 to Rs 8.54 lakh crore in 2023-24", he said. "According to the latest available estimates, the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Bihar for the year 2023-24 is estimated to be Rs 8,54,429 crore at current prices and Rs 4,64,540 crore at constant (2011-12) prices. In the fiscal year 2023-24, tax revenue amounted to Rs 1,61,965 crore, making it the most ...

SHG Plus model helping Bihar's rural women build homes, educate children

Kiran Kumari of Bihar's Muzaffarpur remembers a time when borrowing money at exorbitant rates was the norm for her. Now, a unique community loan system designed to empower rural women has not only provided her with an escape from the debt trap but also a way to secure her family's future. Women in Bihar who once struggled to make ends meet are now growing strawberries, building homes and investing in their children's education through SHG Plus -- an evolution of the traditional self-help group (SHG) model that is designed to empower rural women through financial inclusion, transparency and collective strength. The system's evolution was dreamed up by the women themselves. The model was developed with help from the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India. "We used to borrow money from lenders at 60 per cent interest. It's only 2 per cent under SHG Plus," Kiran Kumari says. "Now, we don't need to borrow from outside." In the villages of Muzaffarpur, Kiran Kumari's journey is not ...

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar expands Cabinet, inducts seven new faces from BJP

At a ceremony held in the Raj Bhavan here, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan administered the oath of office to the new inductees who raised the strength of the Cabinet to 36

Bihar at the bottom: Tejashwi slams PM's visit, accuses govt of betrayal

Speaking to ANI, he noted that there will be no other elections in Bihar this year, pointing to the already concluded Delhi elections

Makhananomics spices up Bihar's political battle ahead of Assembly polls

With Chouhan's outreach to makhana farmers on eve of PM's visit and Union Budget boost for the state, BJP-led NDA gears up to return to power in its stronghold

Bihar to appoint 140 officers for women affected by domestic violence

The Bihar government has decided to appoint 140 full-time 'protection officers' across the state to support women affected by domestic violence more effectively. The Social Welfare Department has decided to create a separate cadre under which sub-division, district and state-level protection officers will be appointed. The decision has been taken in view of the rising number of domestic violence cases in the state. Speaking to PTI, Harjot Kaur Bamhrah, additional chief secretary of the Social Welfare Department and chairman cum MD of Bihar Women and Child Development Corporation, said, "The department has decided to appoint full-time POs to effectively deal with cases of domestic violence." "The process will start soon. A separate cadre will be created for the purpose... More than 140 POs will be appointed across the state. Of them, 101 will be appointed at the sub-division level and 38 at the district level. A state-level PO will also be appointed," she added. The decision has be

East Central Railway takes extra steps to manage heavy rush at stations

These steps by ECR have been taken given several special trains running for Patna Junction, jam-packed with Kumbh Mela devotees

Bihar govt approves rural road projects worth over Rs 17,000 crore

Rural road construction in Bihar is all set to receive a major boost with projects worth more than Rs 17,000 crore getting the cabinet nod, a top official said. Briefing reporters after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat Department, S Siddharth, on Thursday said approval was given for 37 projects of the rural works division, covering as many districts of the state. "These projects include construction and maintenance of 11,251 roads, the total length of which would be 19,876 km. An expenditure of Rs 17,266 crore was approved for the purpose," said Siddharth. A district-wise break-up showed that the maximum number of 706 roads, with a total length of 1,237 km, are to be built in Madhubani, at a cost of Rs 1,221 crore. However, it is Aurangabad that will have the largest length of roads (1,252 km), the total number being 576, at a cost of Rs 1,125 crore. Another district with a significant number of 629 roads is

Our eternal values key to solving all problems: Guv Arif Mohammad Khan

Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Sunday asserted that "a long period of slavery" made the people of India indifferent to their "eternal cultural values", which hold the key to solving all the problems faced by the nation. He made the remark at an interactive session organised here by think-tank Grand Trunk Road Initiative (GTRI). Known for his proficiency in Sanskrit, Khan drew applause when he recited many verses in Sanskrit, while insisting that he saw himself as a "vidyarthi" (student) and not as a "vidvaan" (scholar). "We seem to have developed an indifference towards our eternal values because of having experienced a long period of slavery," Khan said. "But our heritage provides us the key to solving many of our problems. Just look at the national anthem which speaks of Jai', which implies victory, but is distinct from Vijay' that indicates subjugation of another," he said. Known for his plainspeak, Khan, who took over as the governor last month, pointed out "this is the