Page 27 - Bihar

IOC to invest over Rs 21,000 cr in Bihar refinery expansion, gas projects

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) -- the nation's top oil firm -- will invest over Rs 21,000 crore to expand the Barauni refinery in Bihar as well as in setting up a city gas distribution network across the state, a senior executive said on Thursday. IOC is expanding its Barauni refinery to 9 million tonnes per annum from current 6 million tonnes together with a petrochemical plant at a cost of about Rs 16,000 crore and invest another Rs 5,600 crore in setting up network to retail CNG to automobiles and piped cooking gas to households and industries in 27 cities of Bihar, company Executive Director Suman Kumar said while speaking at the Bihar Business Connect 2024 investor summit here. "IOC is the oldest investor in Bihar, setting up the Barauni refinery in 1964. The initial capacity was 3 million tonnes per annum which was later expanded to 6 million tonnes. Now we are expanding the capacity from 6 million tonnes to 9 million tonnes per annum. Alongside, a 200,000 tonnes polypropylene is

Nitish to lead NDA in 2025 Bihar Assembly polls: BJP's state chief

Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal on Wednesday asserted that the NDA will contest the 2025 assembly polls in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He also rejected speculations triggered by a recent remark of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in response to a query about Kumar, who heads the JD(U). In an interview with a private news channel, Shah, who is a former BJP president, had evaded a direct reply when he was asked whether the NDA would adopt in Bihar a strategy similar to that in Maharashtra where it went to polls without declaring a chief ministerial candidate and got a landslide victory. Shah, who is widely regarded as the second-most powerful person in the BJP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had replied after a pause, "We will sit together and decide on the issue. Once we take a decision, we will let you know." The equivocal reply has led to speculations in political circles here about the fate of Kumar, who is in his 70s, has been at the helm fo

Bihar to organise investor summit for 2nd time to boost industrial growth

After an impressive maiden show, Bihar will on December 19-20 host the second edition of Bihar Business Connect - the global investor summit that looks at boosting industrial and entrepreneurial growth in the state. The prestigious event, curated by the state's Department of Industries, seeks to showcase Bihar as a vibrant investment destination. "The inaugural edition in 2023 witnessed participation from over 600 entrepreneurs from India and abroad. Bihar Business Connect 2023 was a landmark initiative. During the two-day summit held last year, a total of 278 investment proposals amounting to Rs 50,530 crore were signed as MoUs, out of which 244 projects worth Rs 38,000 crore have already been implemented on the ground," an official statement said. This investment has significantly accelerated industrial development in the state and created numerous employment opportunities. "Considering the success of last year's Bihar Business Connect, the Department of Industries, Government of

Centre grants approval for 47 ethanol projects in Bihar for loan subsidies

A total of 47 projects from Bihar have been issued in-principle approvals for interest subvention on bank loans for establishing new or expanding existing distilleries, the government said on Wednesday. Currently, 22 ethanol distilleries - 8 molasses-based and 14 grain-based - are operational in Bihar, Minister of State for Food Nimuben Jayatibhai Bambhaniya said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The government is implementing the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme nationwide, with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) selling petrol blended with ethanol. Under the programme, the government has set a target of 20 per cent ethanol blending with petrol by 2025-26. To boost ethanol production capacity and meet blending targets, the Centre has introduced various Ethanol Interest Subvention Schemes from 2018 to 2022. Under these schemes, 47 projects from Bihar have received in-principle approvals, she said. For each Ethanol Supply Year (ESY), OMCs invite bids from distilleries for etha

NIA conducts searches in Bihar in over recovery of AK-47 rifle parts

Searches by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are underway at several locations in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district in connection with its probe into the procurement of AK-47 rifle butt and scope, a senior officer said. Muzaffarpur Deputy SP A C Gyani said sleuths of the federal agency started conducting the raids at 5 AM. "Sleuths of the federal investigation agency are searching the premises of one Devamni Rai in Kudhni area in connection with its probe into the recovery of one butt and one scope of an illegally procured AK-47 rifle from his possession." There are reports that NIA sleuths have also recovered unaccounted cash from his premises, and a note-counting machine has been brought, the deputy SP. Notably, the Bihar Police had busted a network of arms smugglers in May this year and arrested two persons Vikash Kumar and Satyam Kumar from Muzaffarpur railway station in connection with the recovery of the AK-47 rifle parts. A preliminary investigation revealed that Vikash h

Bihar fully prepared to create robust biz ecosystem: Deputy CM Choudhary

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has asserted that the state is fully prepared to create a robust business ecosystem with improved infrastructure facilities along with better law and order situation, while assuring domestic and global firms that their investment is "safe". In a podcast interview with PTI, Choudhary, who is also the finance minister, highlighted the steps that are being taken by the state government to change the image of Bihar and attract investments into the state for creating employment opportunities and achieving higher economic growth. The state government is organizing 'Bihar Business Connect' Summit on December 19-20 here to attract investments. "With the guidance of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar is fully prepared to create a robust business ecosystem. Bihar is ready to stand with you, offering all the support needed for your success," Choudhary said. He invited domestic and global corporates to visit Bihar an

Bihar sees 15-fold jump in data consumption, state goes big on infra

Bihar has seen a 15-fold jump in data consumption in the last five years as the state goes big on developing infrastructure, investing in connectivity and building rail and road networks, its Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena said. Bihar has witnessed unprecedented growth in infrastructure development with its road density being the third largest in India that facilitates trade and transport. Its electricity generation has expanded from 700 MW to 7,000 MW while the state has built IT parks and data centres are in the offing. Infrastructure is the focus, Meena, the top-most bureaucrat in the Bihar government, said adding massive investments have gone into building infrastructure in the last two decades. "If I talk of the road sector, we have a network of 1.2 lakh kilometres of rural roads. It has been built completely during the last 20 years. We have a very strong network of national highways, state highways and major district roads. And I am happy to share with you that during the .

Watch: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visits Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya

Watch: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visits Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.

BPSC School Teacher re-exam result 2024 announced, view how to check

Bihar Public Service Commission has announced BPSC School Teacher re-exam result 2024. Candidates can check the results through the official website of BPSC at bpsc.bih.nic.in

Bihar govt approves investment proposals worth nearly Rs 30,000 crore

The Bihar government's State Investment Promotion Board has approved investment proposals worth nearly Rs 30,000 crore. This includes in-principal for proposals worth nearly Rs 29,000 crore in-principle approval (Stage 1) for 52 units and final financial approval to 35 proposals totalling around Rs 600 crore. The approvals were given during the 58th meeting of the State Investment Promotion Board, according to an official statement. So far this financial year, the in-principle approvals have been given to 260 proposals, while financial approvals have been granted to 161 proposals. The meeting was attended by Industry Secretary Bandana Preyashi. The Bihar government has created the State Investment Promotion Board to approve investment proposals. Bihar Business Connect - the annual investor meet of the state - drew "tremendous success by signing MoUs of more than Rs 50,000 crore" of investment proposals in its maiden show in 2023, he noted. The second edition is scheduled to be h

Nitish condoles 2 Bihar workers' deaths in Manipur, announces ex gratia

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday expressed grief over the killing of two migrant workers from the state in Manipur's Kakching district, and announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for family members of the deceased. Sunalal Kumar (18) and Dashrat Kumar (17), residents of Gopalganj district, were shot dead on Saturday evening. They were construction workers and lived in a rented accommodation in Kakching. The CM has expressed deep sorrow over the killing of two migrant workers from the state in Manipur's Kakching district. Heartfelt condolences to their family, a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. He has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the immediate family members of the deceased... (he) also directed officials of the state's social welfare and labour departments to ensure that the family members get other benefits, too, as per existing provisions, it said.

Bihar doubles down on major investments as industrial growth surges

Bihar, once seen as less industry-friendly, has seen a surge in big ticket investments from the likes of Adani Group to Coca-Cola as it packages its vast resources with progressive policy to lure investors. Its industries and tourism minister Nitish Mishra, with his CEO-style approach to governance, is pivoting Bihar into a state that could be a gateway for investors to eastern India. Mishra says the perception bias regarding Bihar's industrial capabilities is slowly being overcome. In recent months, Adani Group has announced investment of Rs 8,700 crore in the state, Ambuja Cements is setting up a Rs 1,200-crore unit, and Coca-Cola is expanding its bottling capacity. Bihar Business Connect-2023 -- the state's investor meet -- last year saw memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth over Rs 50,000 crore being signed with 300 companies. And the second edition this week is expected to rake in more. Bihar's industrial potential is limitless, he says. "Bihar has been a victim of perceptio

PSC question paper leaks 'state-sponsored', alleges Tejashwi Yadav

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has charged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with "maintaining silence" over alleged irregularities in a PSC examination, claiming that recent question paper "leaks" in such competitive tests were "state-sponsored". In a video statement late on Friday, the leader of the opposition in the assembly also accused Kumar of failing to communicate with job aspirants who staged protests over the alleged paper leak in the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024, conducted by Bihar Public Service Commission. Kumar's "reluctance to communicate with students who were baton-charged by the police and slapped by Patna district magistrate" showed that the JD(U) supremo is a "tired man and unable to govern Bihar", Tejashwi claimed. "This government has failed in conducting any examination in the state without paper leaks ...whether it is for class 10th, 12th, police constable recruitment exams or BPSC tests, questions papers are leaked before the ...

Bihar: Rumours of BPSC paper leak spark protest, commission vows action

Rumours of a leak of question paper of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) preliminary examination erupted at an examination centre on Friday, prompting the commission to warn of police action against those involved in the "conspiracy". Around 300-400 aspirants boycotted BPSC's 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 held at Bapu Examination Centre at Kumhrar in Patna alleging the question paper was leaked even before the examination started. BPSC chairman Parmar Ravi Manubhai said that examinations were held in a free and fair manner in more than 900 centres, where close to five lakh candidates appeared on Friday. "The BPSC CCE 70th preliminary examination was held in a single shift from noon to 2 pm. The examination was held in 912 centres across the state, and of those, free and fair exams were held in 911 centres," Parmar told PTI. "However, in one centre in Patna, some of the candidates snatched questions papers from the invigilators and stormed out

Two dead in suspected hooch tragedy in Bihar's Begusarai district

In yet another case of suspected hooch tragedy in dry Bihar, two persons have died in Begusarai district with locals alleging that they had consumed spurious liquor and police admitting that it was conducting raids jointly with the Prohibition Excise & Registration department. The two - identified as Hareram Tanti (50) and Chunchun Prasad Singh (60) - died on Wednesday. Both deaths have been reported from Mehda Shahpur village under the jurisdiction of Cherriabariyarpur police station. The district police have so far maintained that it was not in a position to confirm that the deaths were caused by liquor consumption. In a statement, the police claimed that one of the deceased, Hareram Tanti, had been admitted to a hospital with "breathing trouble", while the family members of the other person, Chunchun Prasad Singh, did not agree to a post-mortem examination and claimed that he died of "cold". "The exact cause of death of Tanti can only be known after the post-mortem examination.

Bihar mandis in 'deplorable' state after repeal of APMC Act: Report

APMC Acts are legislations that govern the functioning of mandis in most states and regulate buying and selling of agricultural produce

Tejashwi promises raise in social security pension if gets power in Bihar

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday promised a more than three-fold rise in the amount paid to beneficiaries of social security schemes in Bihar, if the coalition headed by his party came to power in the state. The former Bihar deputy chief minister said the amount paid to senior citizens, widows and people with disabilities would be increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1,500 per month. "If we form the government after the assembly polls due next year, people over 60 years of age or with disabilities as also widows will get Rs 1,500 per month by way of the social security schemes in place," said Yadav, who is currently the leader of the opposition in the state assembly. The RJD leader, whose party is a partner in the ruling coalition in adjoining Jharkhand, where social security schemes played a role in helping JMM leader Hemant Soren's return to power, asserted, "we deliver on our promises whenever we get a chance", even as he termed as "meagre" the Rs 400 per month currently paid in ...

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BPSC exam row: Patna Police dismisses rumours about Khan Sir's arrest

The protesting students are demanding that exams be held in 'One Shift and One Paper' to avoid the normalisation process

Bihar govt asks 12 depts to prepare roadmap against gender-based violence

The Bihar government has asked top officials of 12 departments to immediately prepare a roadmap and plan joint activities for women empowerment and gender justice in the state as part of Centre's third phase of month-long 'Nayi Chetna', a national campaign against gender-based violence. The third edition of Nayi Chetna, a national campaign against gender-based violence, was launched by the Centre on November 25 and it will continue till December 23 this year. The objectives of 'Nayi Chetna' (3.0) include raising awareness about all forms of gender-based violence, encouraging communities to speak out and demand action, providing access to support systems for timely assistance, and empowering local institutions to act decisively against violence. Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena will soon call a meeting of the top officials of 12 departments of the state government to review the roadmaps and joint activities being carried out by the departments concerned as part of 'Nayi Chetna' (3.0) .