Page 9 - Bihar

Cabinet clears 4-lane highway, rail line projects in poll-bound Bihar

The Cabinet has cleared two big projects in Bihar-doubling of the Bakhtiyarpur-Rajgir-Tilaiya rail line and building a 4-lane Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah highway to boost travel and trade

Nitish Kumar launches infrastructure projects worth ₹10,000 cr in Patna

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday launched projects worth Rs 10,000 crore in the state capital Patna. The projects were of the Road Construction, and Urban Development and Housing departments. The CM laid the foundation for the construction of the 35.65-km extension of J P Ganga Path Project from Digha area in Patna to Koilwar Bridge at a cost of over Rs 6,495 crore. According to a statement issued by the chief minister's office, "The extension of the J P Ganga Path Project will provide connectivity to the Patna-Ara-Buxar National Highway (NH-922), the Purvanchal Expressway between Lucknow-Ghazipur, and the Ara-Mohania National Highway (NH-319). It will also alleviate the traffic congestion on the Danapur-Chitnawan-Maner Road. The CM directed officials to ensure timely completion of the extension of the J P Ganga Path to Koilwar." The CM also laid the foundation stone for five other road projects in various districts, with a total length of 225.475 km and costing Rs 2,900

Nitish govt unveils schemes before polls; Oppn calls them INDIA bloc copy

Ahead of the assembly polls, the NDA government in Bihar has announced a series of schemes, prompting the opposition to claim that after remaining in power for 20 years, all that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar could offer was a copy of promises made by the INDIA bloc. Among several promises of the opposition was 200 units of free electricity, which the longest serving CM has sought to neutralise by announcing, notwithstanding his earlier anti-freebies stands, that consumers will not have to pay for 125 units in a month. Kumar on Sunday announced that over 10,000 'Vikas Mitras', who work in villages to make SC and ST people aware of government schemes and convert them to beneficiaries, would be given a one-time allowance of Rs 25,000 each for purchasing tablets so that they can do their work effectively. Their transportation allowance will also be increased from Rs 1,900 to Rs 2,500 per month, and their stationery allowance will be hiked from Rs 900 to Rs 1,500 per month. The governmen

Nitish Kumar announces ₹25,000 allowance for 'vikas mitras' to buy tabs

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday announced that over 10,000 'Vikas Mitras', who work in the villages to reach the benefits of government schemes to SCs and STs, would be given a one-time allowance of Rs 25,000 each for purchasing tablets so that they can do their work effectively. He said their transportation allowance will also be increased from Rs 1,900 to Rs 2,500 per month, and their stationery allowance will be hiked from Rs 900 to Rs 1,500 per month. The government has also decided to provide Rs 10,000 each to more than 30,000 Shiksha Sevaks and Talimi Markaz, who connect children belonging to Mahadalit, minorities and extremely backward communities to formal school education, for purchasing smartphones. It was also decided to increase the amount paid for teaching materials, from Rs 3,405 to Rs 6,000 per centre per year, the CM said. Kumar made the announcements with weeks left for the assembly elections in the state. "Our government is continuously working for th

Bihar govt to provide Rs 1,000 monthly aid to unemployed graduates: CM

The Bihar government will provide financial assistance of Rs 1000 per month to unemployed youths who have graduate degrees for a period of two years under 'Mukhyamantri Nishchay Swayam Sahayta Bhatta Yojana', Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced on Thursday. Earlier, this scheme was applicable for unemployed youths who had passed their intermediate exams only. Kumar, in a post on X, said, "I am pleased to inform that under the state government's seven resolves programme, the previously operated 'Mukhyamantri Nishchay Swayam Sahayta Bhatta Yojana' has now been expanded. Under this, the benefit of the Self-Help Allowance Scheme, which was previously being provided to intermediate-passed youth, has now been extended to unemployed graduate youth who have passed in arts, science, and commerce. "Graduate-passed youth in the 20-25 age group who are not pursuing any studies anywhere, are striving for jobs/employment, do not have any self-employment, or have not obtained government, private

Nitish transfers ₹802 cr to 1.64 mn workers' accounts on Vishwakarma Puja

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday announced the transfer of around Rs 802 crore to the accounts of 16.4 lakh construction workers under an annual scheme, on the occasion of Vishwakarma Puja. The state government will also launch a web portal of the Mukhyamantri Pratigya Yojna' on the occasion, which also coincides with the 75th birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Assembly polls are due in Bihar later this year. Today is the day of worship of Lord Vishwakarma (Vishwakarma Puja), the divine architect of the universe, and it is also the birthday of PM Narendra Modi jee. The PM is tirelessly working with complete dedication for the upliftment of the country and its citizens without stopping or getting tired. It is a happy coincidence that today, funds are being transferred to the accounts of workers under the Bihar Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Kumar said in a post on X. A total of around Rs 802.46 crore is being directly transferred to the

Bihar CM announces interest-free education loans for Class 12 pass students

The Bihar government on Tuesday announced that interest-free loans will be provided to students who passed the class 12 board examinations under the Student Credit Card Scheme to help them pursue higher education. Earlier, education loans of up to Rs 4 lakh were provided at an interest rate of 4 per cent to general male applicants, and 1 per cent to female, differently-abled, and transgender applicants. "Now, the loan will be interest-free for all applicants," Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said in a post on X. The Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme has been in effect since October 2, 2016. Kumar said the provision for repaying a loan of up to Rs 2 lakh in 60 monthly instalments has now been extended to a maximum of 84 monthly instalments. "For loans above Rs 2 lakh, the repayment period has been extended from 84 monthly instalments to a maximum of 120 monthly instalments," he said. Kumar said the objective of his government is to ensure that students can pursue higher education. He

Bihar polls: CM Nitish announces interest-free education loans for students

Bihar Assembly elections 2025: Kumar also extended the repayment period for loans up to ₹2 lakh to 7 years from 5 years, whereas loans above ₹2 lakh need to be repaid in 10 years

Will scrap SIR if illegality found in methodology, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has said Bihar's voter roll revision will be invalidated if illegalities are found in the Election Commission's process, with its ruling to apply nationwide

PM Modi announces development projects worth ₹36,000 crore in Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched multiple development projects worth around Rs 36,000 crore in Bihar's Purnea district on Monday. The PM also inaugurated a newly developed terminal building at Purnea airport, which will enhance passenger handling capacity in the region. Modi flagged off the first flight on the Purnea-Kolkata route. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, several union ministers, state ministers, MPs and MLAs were present at the function. Modi laid the foundation stone for a 3x800 MW thermal power facility worth Rs 25,000 crore at Pirpainti, Bhagalpur. This is the state's largest private sector investment. It is designed on ultra-super critical, low-emission technology. The project will provide dedicated power and strengthen Bihar's energy security, a senior official. The PM also laid the foundation stone for Phase 1 of the Kosi-Mechi Intra-State River Link Project worth over Rs 2,680 crore. "It will focus on upgrading a canal,

PM Modi to visit Bihar on Sep 15 to launch projects worth ₹36,000 crore

Months ahead of assembly elections in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Purnea district on Monday to address a rally and launch development projects worth Rs 36,000 crore. The PM will also inaugurate a newly developed airport terminal at the north Bihar town, which would fulfil the region's long-standing demand for air connectivity. Another key highlight is the scheduled inauguration of the National Makhana Board, the setting up of which was announced in the Union budget earlier this year. Hailed as a "super food" by the PM in many of his speeches, makhana, or Indian foxnuts, are cultivated in abundance in Bihar, which accounts for close to 90 per cent of the production in the country. The BJP-led NDA, which hopes to retain power in the state, believes that the PM has been giving top priority to Bihar. "In his 11 years of tenure, Modi has gifted Bihar development projects worth about Rs 1.50 lakh-crore. Tomorrow, there will be another bonanza. The state is enjoying th

Adani Power to invest $3 bn to set up 2400 MW power project in Bihar

Adani Power on Saturday said it will set up a 2,400 MW ultra super-critical power plant in Bihar at an investment of USD 3 billion (around Rs 26,482 crore). The Adani group company, in a statement, said that it has signed a 25-year Power Supply Agreement (PSA) with Bihar State Power Generation Company Ltd. (BSPGCL) to supply power from the project that will come up at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur district of the state. The PPA is further to the Letter of Award issued by BSPGCL to Adani Power, on behalf of North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd (NBPDCL) and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd (SBPDCL) in August. Adani Power won the project by offering the lowest supply rate at Rs 6.075 per KWh. The company said it plans to invest approximately USD 3 billion to build the new plant (800 MW X 3) and its supporting infrastructure under the Design, Build, Finance, Own, and Operate (DBFOO) model. The company aims to commission the plant in 60 months. The coal linkage for the power p

Poll-bound Bihar tops home loan growth list at 16.3%: Equirus Securities

As of June 2025, home loans, according to the Equirus note, grew 12.8 per cent y-o-y to Rs 41.2 trillion, led by state-owned banks (+15.5 per cent y-o-y) and NBFCs / state finance banks

Nitish lays foundation stones for projects worth ₹1,433 crore in Barh

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday laid foundation stones for developmental projects worth Rs 1,433.77 crore in Barh on the outskirts of Patna. Among the projects are the widening of SH 106 into a four-lane road at Rs 1,065.53 crore, the development of a cremation ground and construction of an electric crematorium near Umanath Temple at Rs 9.05 crore, and the widening of a 45.7-km road from Athmalgola to Mokama Bata Chowk at Rs 249.88 crore. Also, a bridge will be constructed over the Ghoba river between Hidayatpur and Manjhauli in Bakhtiyarpur at Rs 11.92 crore, the Umanath Temple complex will be beautified at Rs 67.74 crore, and a drainage system will be built in the sub-division at Rs 29.65 crore, said a statement. Kumar visited the Sidhi Ghat in Bakhtiyarpur and reviewed the ongoing development works there. He also inspected the construction work of the Didarganj-Fatuha-Bakhtiyarpur-Karjan bypass. Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav, and Water Resources and ...

Cabinet announces ₹7,616 cr highway, railway projects in poll-bound Bihar

The Mokama-Munger highway and Bhagalpur-Dumka-Rampurhat rail line doubling will boost connectivity, jobs, and industrial growth across Bihar and adjoining states

Accept Aadhaar card as 12th document: EC tells Bihar poll authority

The Election Commission has asked its Bihar poll machinery to accept Aadhaar card as an additional document to establish the identity of electors following the Supreme Court's directives. In a letter to the state Chief Electoral Officer on Tuesday, the Commission said "The Aadhaar card shall be treated as the 12th document, in addition to the 11 documents listed..." The EC made it clear that the Aadhaar card is to be accepted and utilised as a "proof of identity and not as a proof of citizenship", in terms of Section 9 of the Aadhaar (Delivery of Financial And Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act. Under Section 23(4) of the Representation of People Act, 1950, the Aadhaar Card is already one of the documents enumerated for the purpose of establishing the identity of a person. The poll panel also cautioned that "any instance of non-compliance or refusal to accept Aadhaar in accordance with this directive shall be treated with utmost seriousness". The Supreme Court on Monday .

Patna Sahib gurdwara gets bomb threat; security tightened, probe underway

Security was beefed up at the Patna Sahib gurdwara after the shrine received a bomb threat, police said on Tuesday. The Takhat Sri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib, which commemorates the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, received the threat email on Monday evening, they said. SP (Patna East) Parichay Kumar said it was mentioned in the mail that explosives had been planted on the shrine's premises. "Security was immediately beefed up on the gurdwara premises, and bomb disposal squad and dog squad were engaged. No suspicious object has been found so far," he told PTI. "Prima facie, the mail appears to be a hoax. A case has been registered and the Cyber Cell is tracing the origin of the mail," he added. The shrine, built by Ranjit Singh in the 18th century, is one of the five takhts in Sikhism. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, was born in Patna in 1666. He spent his early years here before moving to Anandpur Sahib.

Bihar STET 2025 registration starts today: Check dates, eligibility & more

Applications for Bihar STET 2025 will be accepted starting from September 8 to 16. The CBT exam will be administered from October 4 to 25, and results will be made public on November 1, 2025

Nitish launches ₹1,159 cr projects, inaugurates Bihar's first cable bridge

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday launched projects worth around Rs 1,159.84 crore in Patna district. The CM also inaugurated Bihar's first cable suspension bridge, modelled on the iconic Laxman Jhula of Rishikesh (Uttarakhand). The bridge over the Punpun River has been built at a cost of Rs 82.99 crore. A statement issued by the chief minister's office here said, "The CM on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 17 development projects in Patna district." These projects include the construction of a bridge and approach road over Punpun River between Samda and Gularia Vigha villages in Paliganj block at a cost of Rs 19.77 crore, development of tourism facilities at the Ular Sun Temple in Paliganj at a cost of Rs 14.99 crore and construction of a connecting road from Punpun station via Akona village to the Patna Ring Road at a cost of Rs 88 lakh. Other projects include construction of a two-lane road linking Sohagi Mor of the Sadikpur-Pabheda-Masaurhi Road to

PM Modi says he is 'deeply hurt' by abuses hurled at his late mother

Calling the remarks during Congress' Bihar yatra an insult to women and "Mother India," Modi said he may forgive RJD and Congress, but the people of Bihar never will