Page 11 - Nitish Kumar

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

Reserved seats for poor students to be filled up, says Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday told the state assembly that steps will be taken to fill up seats reserved for economically weaker sections in accordance with the Right to Education Act. The leader of the House rose to intervene during a heated exchange of words between the ruling and the opposition members over vacant reserved seats in private educational institutions in Patna. The assembly witnessed members of the RJD, the principal opposition party, entering the well of the House, shouting slogans against what they called "education mafia". The ruckus took place within minutes of the commencement of the day's proceedings, when RJD MLA Lalit Yadav raised the issue of reserved seats, in private educational institutions of Patna, remaining vacant. He also sought district-wise details of such vacant seats and a statement on what steps were being taken. Education Minister Sunil Kumar told the House that remedial steps were being taken by the government but he failed to

Bihar govt tables Rs 3.17 trn Budget, proposes women-centric schemes

Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who holds the finance portfolio, tabled a Rs 3.17 trillion Budget in the Assembly

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

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

PM Modi to release 19th installment of PM KISAN in Bihar's Bhagalpur today

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will accompany the Prime Minister, and the rally is expected to witness the participation of around 500,000 farmers

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

On moral ground: Railway ministers who resigned after train tragedies

Here's a list of railway ministers who resigned, or offered to resign, following major train tragedies, taking moral responsibility for the incidents

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

With Delhi win in the bag, BJP targets major Bihar Assembly victory

Delhi's victory has given the NDA a significant boost, with political discussions already gaining pace in Bihar. The NDA has set an ambitious goal of winning 225 seats in the 243-member Bihar assembly

Full faith in PM's leadership: Bihar CM hails BJP's victory in Delhi polls

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday hailed the victory of ally BJP in the Delhi assembly polls and lauded the "able leadership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The JD(U) president voiced his sentiments about the electoral verdict on social media. "Heartiest congratulations for the Bharatiya Janata Party's emphatic victory in assembly polls of Delhi where the people have reposed full faith in the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kudos to Narendra Modi ji for the historic win," Kumar wrote. The BJP won 48 seats of the 70-strong Delhi assembly, ousting from power the Aam Aadmi Party headed by former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. The JD(U) had contested the Burari seat as a BJP ally, but it lost to the AAP winner by a huge margin of 20,000 votes. Assembly elections in Bihar are due later this year when Kumar, on the wrong side of 70, will seek a fifth consecutive term in office. The BJP, which is numerically stronger in the state assembly, had been lying

Budget 2025: From Siddaramaiah to Nitish Kumar, here are CMs' views

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar calls Budget 'progressive' while Karnataka CM SIddaramaiah said that it has given Karnataka an 'empty vessel'

Union Budget will help accelerate Bihar's growth, says Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday lauded the Union Budget 2025-26 as one that was "positive" and would help in accelerating development of the state. Kumar, whose JD(U) is a key constituent of the ruling BJP-led NDA at the Centre, also profusely thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. In a statement, the longest-serving CM of Bihar said the proposal for setting up a "Makhana board" will give a boost to cultivation of foxnuts, for which the state is known far and wide. He also said greenfield airports proposed in the budget will go a long way in improving flight connectivity, which would give a fillip to the state's economic growth.

BJP ally Chirag Paswan demands cancellation of BPSC exams over lapses

In an embarrassment to the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar, Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Wednesday backed to the hilt the demand for cancellation of BPSC exams held last month. Paswan, whose Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is an NDA constituent but not a part of the government in the state, said he learnt about "irregularities on a large scale" in the exams from close relatives who were among the more than four lakh candidates. "Many members of my family, my nieces and a nephew, took the exams. I have learnt from them the shocking lapses that took place," said the Hajipur MP when he was asked about his stand on the Combined Competitive Exams held on December 13. Paswan said he was told "at many some centres, question papers were not available in adequate numbers. So, these were printed after the tests had officially begun. After a short while, these question papers were for all to see on social media platforms like WhatsApp and X". The Union minister lambasted the BPSC authorit

Union Budget 2025: Focus on allies, Bihar, and middle-class relief

2025 will see the fewest Assembly polls in any year during the current five-year term, therefore the Budget will be presented in a more favourable political context for the government

Dedicated his entire life to social justice: PM remembers Karpoori Thakur

Respectful tributes to former Bihar Chief Minister Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur ji on his birth anniversary, who dedicated his entire life to social justice and made many efforts, PM Modi said

JD(U) Manipur chief withdraws support to BJP, Nitish Kumar expels him

While the JDU's move will not affect the stability of the government, it sends a strong message, given the party's role as a key ally of the BJP at both the Centre and in Bihar

'Spurious liquor' claims seven lives in dry Bihar; police launch probe

While locals attribute the deaths to illicit liquor, police claim that at least two deaths were unrelated. The cause of the remaining five deaths remains unclear

Walking with allies: Poll-bound Bihar's Budget demands loom large

If it was Andhra Pradesh last Budget, it's poll-bound Bihar that has now turned to Centre with a list of demands. How the NDA government is delivering on promises