Page 6 - Bihar Government

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

Over 1,400 candidates scored negative marks in recently held BPSC exam

More than 1,400 candidates scored negative marks in the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) recently, an official said. The BPSC on Thursday had announced the results of the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination 2024 over which massive protests were held in the state for weeks alleging irregularities. BSPC Examination Controller Rajesh Kumar Singh told reporters here on Friday that, "Out of 3,28, 990 candidates who had appeared in the examination, 21,581 aspirants have cleared the CCE's preliminary test. While 1,409 candidates scored negative marks, only one candidate could score a maximum of 120 marks out of 150. There are a total of 1,181 candidates who scored more than 100 marks, 6,344 scored between 90 to 100 marks." Singh slammed those who alleged that questions were easy in the 70th CCE exam and said, "For example1,70,485 candidates gave wrong answer that MLA, Shreyasi Singh, the first .

BSEB Class 12th 2025: Bihar board releases admit cards, view details

The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has released the Class 12th Admit Card. School principals and heads can download the admit card for the students through the official website

Bihar Guv assured us of taking steps to resolve BPSC row: Prashant Kishor

Jan Suraaj party founder Prashant Kishor on Monday claimed that Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has assured of taking steps to find a solution to the BPSC examination row. Addressing a press conference here, Kishor said a delegation of BPSC aspirants will visit the Raj Bhavan in the afternoon to apprise the governor about the matter. The 70th Combined Competitive Examination held on December 13 has been in the eye of a storm over allegations of question paper leak, which has been denied by the BPSC, though a fresh test was ordered for more than 12,000 candidates. Respected Bihar Governor has taken the initiative and assured that efforts will be made to find a solution to the issue involving the recently concluded BPSC exam. Steps will also be taken to hold a dialogue between the government and the protesting aspirants. This has been assured by the governor. An 11-member delegation of BPSC aspirants will meet the governor in this regard, he said. Kishor also asserted that he would

CM Nitish Kumar unveils Rs 1,107 crore development projects in Madhubani

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar unveiled developmental projects worth Rs 1,107 crore in Madhubani district on Sunday. Kumar inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 139 projects in the district. He also announced that the state government would urge the Centre to start flight services from the Madhubani airport under the UDAN scheme. The CM chaired a meeting at Mithila Haat in the Jhanjharpur area to review the ongoing developmental schemes in the district. District Magistrate Arvind Kumar Verma gave a detailed presentation about the ongoing projects and schemes, including the Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme, CM Nishchay Self Help Allowance Scheme, CM Rural Solar Street Light and CM Agricultural Electricity Connection Scheme, a statement said. The CM instructed the officials to resolve the issues raised by the elected representatives in the meeting at the earliest, it added. Kumar also inspected the Saksham Anganwadi Center in Durgipatti village of Khutauna block. During th

Bihar govt approves land acquisition to expand Darbhanga, Raxaul airports

The Bihar cabinet on Friday approved acquisition of an additional 89.75 acres of land for expansion and development of the Darbhanga airport into an international one. The council of ministers also gave its nod for acquisition of 139 acres of land worth Rs 207 crore for the expansion of Raxaul airport in the state, an official said. These decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here. Talking to reporters soon after the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary S Siddharth said, "The cabinet approved a proposal for the acquisition of 89.75 acres of land worth Rs 244.60 crore for the development and expansion of the existing Darbhanga airport into an international airport. The state government will pay the amount to the owners of the land... land will be transferred to the Airport Authority of India for the project". The development and expansion of the existing Darbhanga airport will improve air connectivity and benefit the people of the entire .

Jan Suraaj Party moves Patna HC, seeks cancellation of BPSC exams

Amid Prashant Kishor's fast unto death over alleged irregularities in the Bihar PSC exams, his Jan Suraaj Party has moved the Patna High Court, seeking cancellation of the competitive tests, his counsel said on Friday. Advocate Pranav Kumar said the petition, highlighting "irregularities in the Combined Competitive Exams held on December 13", has been posted for hearing on January 15. "The case was mentioned today before the single-judge bench of Justice Arvind Singh Chandel. The matter has been posted for hearing on January 15," he told PTI-Bhasha. "We have highlighted large-scale irregularities in the exams held across the state, citing instances of people carrying mobile phones inside examination halls where there were no jammers. At many places, several examinees solved their question papers huddled together," he alleged. Kumar claimed that "such irregularities" were reported from many examination centres and not just Bapu Pariksha Parisar where many candidates had boycotted th