Page 26 - Bihar

Lathi charge on peaceful student protesters attack on democracy: Kejriwal

In a post on the social media platform X, Kejriwal highlighted the incident as an attack on democracy and criticised the government's response to student voices

BPSC aspirants, police clash in Patna; case filed against Prashant Kishor

Thousands of BPSC aspirants protested at Patna's Gandhi Maidan, demanding a re-examination of the 70th prelims; police used lathi-charge, water cannons as protesters broke barricades

BPSC exam stalemate continues as protesting students reject offer for talks

The row over the alleged Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) question paper leak seemed to be heading for an impasse with protesting students on Saturday rejecting the Patna district administration's offer for talks with authorities in the commission and insisting on an appointment with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. In hardening of stance, Patna District Magistrate (DM) Chandrasekhar Singh also said he would not allow the 'Chatra Sansad' (students' congregation), called by Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Sunday and warned of action against coaching institute owners who were found to be involved, in any manner, in the protests henceforth. Kishor on Saturday went to Gardani Bagh where BPSC aspirants have been staging a dharna for the last several days. Addressing the protesters, Kishor said, "Before coming here, I had a long discussion with people from the education field. I must say that irregularities and paper leaks have now become the norm as far as BPSC exams are concerne

Despite widespread protests, BPSC rules out cancellation of Dec 13 exam

Unfazed by mounting pressure, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on Friday made it clear that the 70th Integrated Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 held on December 13 across the state will not be cancelled over allegations of question paper leak. Speaking to reporters here, BPSC Examination Controller Rajesh Kumar Singh said, "There is no question of cancelling the entire BPSC exam held on December 13. The BPSC decided to cancel the preliminary examination held at Bapu Pariksha Parisar centre only due to disruption created by a group of unruly aspirants as part of the conspiracy to disrupt the exam. The re-examination will be held on January 4 at some other centre in the city." "We have information that a group of private coaching institutes are instigating aspirants... and they are mobilising students to raise the demand for the cancellation of the entire exam. Their demand is baseless," Singh said. The BPSC examination controller's assertion comes

Priyanka Gandhi slams BJP over police action against job seekers in Patna

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday slammed the BJP over the police action on job seekers in Patna, saying the ruling party's only vision is to save its chair and whoever demands employment is oppressed. Chaos erupted during a protest in Patna on Wednesday over the alleged leak of a question paper of the December 13 combined preliminary exam conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC), prompting the state police to baton charge job aspirants. Job seekers claimed that several protesters were injured during the police action but a senior officer denied the charge. "Lathi charge on youths who had their hands folded is the height of cruelty. In BJP rule, youths demanding employment are beaten with sticks. Be it UP, Bihar or Madhya Pradesh - if youths raise their voice, they are brutally beaten," Priyanka Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on her WhatsApp channel. "It is the government's job to think about the future of the youth of the world's youngest country and

Bihar Police deny any 'injury' to BPSC aspirants protesting in Patna

Officials also claimed that coaching teachers were instigating aspirants to protest and named several social media accounts that were allegedly misleading the students

CM Nitish Kumar launches projects worth Rs 200 cr in East Champaran

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for a host of developmental projects worth Rs 201.12 crore in East Champaran district. Kumar, during the second day of his Pragati Yatra', visited Sundarpur village under the Kesaria assembly seat and virtually laid the foundation stones for the schemes. According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), He inaugurated the newly constructed building of a government school in Sundarpur. Kumar also handed over the management of a pond constructed under the Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali scheme to JEEViKA Didis' (women associated with self-help groups under the JEEViKA project). He distributed symbolic cheques of financial assistance of Rs 3.35 crore to 1,26,354 JEEViKA Didis'. The chief minister directed officials concerned for immediate construction of two bridges over the Dhanauti river in Majuraha and Budhi Gandak in Ibrahimpur area, respectively, in the district. Besides, he asked offici

President appoints new Guvs for Kerala, Bihar, Odisha, Mizoram, Manipur

Former Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been appointed the governor of strife-torn Manipur, ex-Army chief Vijay Kumar Singh is the new Mizoram governor while Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has been shifted to Bihar as part of gubernatorial appointments effected by President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday. Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been named the governor of Kerala in place of Khan, according to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Arif Mohammed Khan has been appointed as Bihar Governor, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a statement. President Murmu has accepted the resignation of Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, it said. Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati has been appointed as the new Odisha Governor in place of Das, the statement said. These appointments will take effect from the dates they will assume charge of their respective offices, it added.

Nitish's manoeuvering alters Bihar's political scene ahead of 2025 polls

Upheaval jolted Bihar just weeks into 2024, as Nitish Kumar, the state's longest-serving chief minister, made yet another dramatic volte-face to realign with his old ally, the BJP. The septuagenarian, renowned for his uncanny ability to shift political allegiances at will while maintaining his grip on power, abandoned the INDIA bloc he had diligently helped form, relinquishing his hopes of securing a "national role" in politics. This unexpected move sent shockwaves through the political landscape, signalling yet another twist in Kumar's ever-changing political journey. Perhaps sensing in advance that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could be diminished but not vanquished, Kumar agreed to be an ally on whose support BJP now depends for survival in power at the Centre. In the bargain, the 73-year-old leader has earned the backing of the BJP and all its junior allies in the state where assembly polls are due in 2025. Kumar enjoys the clout even though skeptics such as political ...

NDA to contest 2025 Bihar polls under Nitish, PM Modi: Deputy CM Choudhary

The NDA will contest the assembly polls in Bihar next year under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary said on Sunday. "There is no confusion," he said during a press conference at the BJP headquarters when asked to comment on speculation that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could do a rethink on projecting Kumar as its leader in the polls. He was responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent interview to a news channel in which he was asked if the NDA could go to the polls in Bihar without declaring a chief ministerial candidate, like it recently did with great success in Maharashtra. Shah, a former BJP president who is still regarded as the party's principal strategist, had replied after a pause, "We will sit together and decide. We will let you know after we have made a decision." The cryptic response had led to furious speculation that the BJP could insist on not ...

Bihar receives record Rs 1.81 trillion investment proposals, says minister

"Ab humara samay hai" - The time for Bihar has come, said state's Industries and Tourism Minister Nitish Mishra after it received a record Rs 1.81 lakh crore worth of investment proposals in its only second investor meet. Mishra said the focus will now shift to providing all the promised support to the investors so that the units could start quickly. "I am very happy personally and very satisfied, and I am thankful to my team in the industry department who has been for the last few months working on their toes, holding a series of events in different states, interacting with the business community, trying to pitch Bihar and the advantage Bihar," he said. The state signed with an array of companies' memorandum of understanding (MoUs), committing Rs 1.81 lakh crore of investment at the second edition of the Bihar Business Connect investor summit last week. "To be very honest, even we were not expecting this kind of figure," he said. "From now on it will be the emergence of a new ...

Bengal, Bihar most impacted by arsenic contamination: Centre to NGT

West Bengal and Bihar are impacted the most by arsenic contamination of groundwater, the Centre has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The tribunal is hearing the issue of rice being susceptible to arsenic contamination because it absorbs more of the toxic semi-metallic element from water and soil. Earlier, it sought a reply from the Centre on it. In an order dated December 16, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel noted that the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had filed its reply after seeking inputs from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). "States of West Bengal and Bihar are reported to be most affected by arsenic contamination of groundwater irrigation by contaminated groundwater is the major route for arsenic entry into agricultural soil which ultimately leads to its entry into the food chain," the Centre said in its reply. There can be a "significant build-up" of the toxic element in r

NDA leaders back CM Nitish Kumar as face for upcoming Bihar elections

The ruling NDA in Bihar on Friday dismissed speculations that the coalition could do a rethink on projecting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as its leader in the assembly polls due next year. Speaking to the media after a meeting held here to bring about better coordination at the grassroots level, state presidents of parties like the BJP, Kumar's JD(U) and Union minister Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) also rubbished suggestions triggered by Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent statement. Dilip Jaiswal, state minister and Bihar BJP chief said, "We should understand that Amit Shah was trying to underscore that he was a karyakarta' (worker) of a party in which big decisions are taken by the parliamentary board". "But, the leadership role of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had been a given for long. There is no question of going back on that, asserted Jaiswal. He was responding to Shah's recent interview to a news channel in which he was asked whether the NDA could go to po

Amit Shah applauds SSB, credits for securing borders, combating Naxalism

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday lauded the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) for its pivotal role in securing the country's borders with friendly nations such as Nepal and Bhutan, combating Naxalism in Bihar and Jharkhand, and curbing illegal activities. Addressing the 61st Raising Day celebrations of the SSB in Siliguri, Shah said, "The Sashastra Seema Bal has played a key role in securing our borders with friendly nations such as Nepal and Bhutan. Its alertness and presence have ensured a sense of security in the Siliguri Corridor and the Eastern region." Highlighting the SSB's role in tackling left-wing extremism, Shah noted, "The SSB has played an important role in ending the menace of Naxalism in Bihar and Jharkhand. Their proactive approach, in coordination with the CRPF and local police forces, has significantly weakened Naxal activities in Chhattisgarh, making the region Naxal-free after almost four decades." Shah commended the SSB for its unique initiatives to foster cultur

Bihar attracts investment proposals of Rs 1.8 trn at global investors' meet

The Bihar government on Friday said it has attracted record investment proposals of nearly Rs 1.81 lakh crore across different sectors such as renewable energy, food processing and manufacturing from an array of corporates, including the Adani Group, Sun Petrochemicals, and others. At the end of the two-day global investors' summit Bihar Business Connect 2024, Industries Secretary Bandana Preyashi said the Bihar government has signed MoUs for setting up 423 units with an investment of Rs 1,80,899 crore. "We are overwhelmed with the response from corporates. It is beyond our expectations. We have received investment proposals of over Rs 1.8 lakh crore," she told reporters here. Sun Petrochemicals and Adani Group were among an array of industrial houses that lined up a record Rs 1.8 lakh crore investments across sectors in Bihar, more than triple of Rs 50,300 crore the state received at its maiden investor meet last year. Preyashi said Sun Petrochemicals will invest Rs 36,700 crore i

Haldiram Snack to invest Rs 300 cr in Bihar, MoU signed to set up plant

Haldiram Snack, a leading player in the packaged food industry, will invest Rs 300 crore in Bihar to set up a manufacturing unit, said a company official here on Friday. The company, which manufactures sweets, namkeen, bhujia , snacks and other food items, has signed an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the Bihar government to make an investment of Rs 300 crore, said its Vice President Sanjay Singhania. "We are setting up a manufacturing plant for sweets, namkeens and snacks in Bihar. We will be investing Rs 300 crore," Haldiram Snacks Pvt Ltd Vice President Sanjay Singhania told PTI on the sidelines of Bihar Business Connect 2024. The Agarwal family-promoted company has acquired a 12-acre land at Sikanderpur in Bihta to set up this plant. "The plant will be operational by mid-2027," he added. The state government is organizing a global investors summit -- Bihar Business Connect 2024 -- to attract investments. The second edition being held here has seen the signing of MoUs

Ashoka Buildcon to invest Rs 9,000 cr in green hydrogen plant in Bihar

Construction engineering company Ashoka Buildcon plans to invest Rs 9,000 crore in setting up a green hydrogen plant in Bihar, its COO-Renewable Energy Mayank Sharma said Friday. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government, committing to investing in the plant, during the Bihar Business Connect 2024. The Maharashtra-based firm is in highway construction, power distribution and solar projects. Sharma said the company will set up a 1,250 MW solar project and use the clean electricity to produce green hydrogen by splitting water. "The first phase of the plant is being planned at Begusarai (in Bihar)," he said. Green hydrogen is the cleanest known source of energy, which produces just water from being burnt. Sharma said the first phase of the project will take 1.5-2 years to commission from the date of receiving all clearances. The second phase will follow thereafter. According to the latest presentation on the company website, Ashoka Buildcon had an

NHPC to invest Rs 5,500 cr in setting up 1,000 MW solar project in Bihar

NHPC Ltd, India's largest hydropower company, will invest Rs 5,500 crore in setting up a 1,000 megawatt solar power project in Bihar, its chairman and managing director Raj Kumar Chaudhary said Friday. The firm signed an MoU with the state government for the investment at the Bihar Business Connect 2024 investor summit here. "We have proposed to invest Rs 5,500 crore in setting up a 1,000 MW solar power project," he said. The project could be set up in 1.5-2 years from the date of land acquisition. "Land is crucial for solar projects. And we would urge the state government to facilitate land acquisition so that we could do the project on time," he said. The company has almost 7 gigawatts of operational hydropower plants and 9.3 gigawatts of capacity is under construction, according to its website. Chaudhary said NHPC is also proposing to set up a small solar plant, electricity from which would be used to make green hydrogen. "The green hydrogen produced will be used to power pas

Airtel, CtrlS, Holoware to invest in Bihar under new IT policy, says govt

Bharti Airtel, data centre company CtrlS, and personal computer maker Holoware have submitted their proposals for investments in Bihar under the state's new IT Policy, 2024, senior government officials said on Thursday. Speaking at the Bihar Business Connect 2024 here, IT Secretary Abhay Kumar said that the incentives under the state's IT Policy 2024 are the best compared to the policies of any other state. He said the state has received tremendous response from investors. "Airtel and Ctrls are in a very advance stage. They have already taken stage 1 clearance. They are submitting financial proposals and very soon you will see their actual investment happening," Kumar said. He said Chennai-based Holoware is also investing in the state for manufacturing of IT hardwares. "They (Holoware) are putting up their factory for laptop PCs. One of their proposals of Rs 30 crore is already cleared, and in time to come they are supposed to make an investment of Rs 300 crore," Kumar said. He .

NTPC plans to set up nuclear power project in Bihar, says CMD Gurdeep Singh

Power giant NTPC has plans to set up a nuclear project in Bihar, a move which will increase its non fossil energy portfolio, the company's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Gurdeep Singh said on Thursday. NTPC has also requested the state government for a land parcel at a suitable location to take forward its nuclear plans, he said addressing a session at the 'Bihar Business Connect 2024' summit here. "Looking at the future of the energy sector, nuclear (energy) is expected to become extremely important for the energy sector, 20-30 years down the line. I want to share that NTPC is now entering the nuclear energy space," Singh said. Without sharing any further details, he said NTPC will conduct a study before taking ahead the plans to set up the nuclear project in the state. On September 11, the Indian government gave its approval to the Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd (ASHVINI), a joint venture of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd NPCIL (51 per cent) and NTPC (49 per cent) to