Page 8 - Nitish Kumar

Nitish Kumar disburses ₹1,200 cr pension to 1.13 cr beneficiaries

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday disbursed over Rs 1,200 crore among 1.13 crore beneficiaries of social security pension schemes in the state. A total amount of Rs 1,263.95 crore was given away to the beneficiaries of six social security schemes, through direct benefit transfer, at a function held at the chief minister's official residence. The state's longest-serving CM, who had recently hiked the monthly pension amount from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100, said on the occasion, "The increase became effective from June. Payments have already been made for the months of June and July. Now, payment is being made for August." "My government has always given priority to help the vulnerable sections of the society. It has been our endeavour to ensure that no eligible senior citizen, woman or specially abled person is left out," he added. According to an official statement, there has been a sharp rise in the number of people applying for social security pensions since the hike. The nu

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar hikes stipend for anganwadi workers, helpers

In yet another populist move ahead of the assembly polls, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday announced a hike in the stipend given to anganwadi workers and helpers in the state. In a post on X, Kumar said anganwadi workers (sevika) will now get Rs 9,000, up from Rs 7,000 they had been receiving so far. Similarly, the stipend for helpers (sahayika) has been hiked from Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,500, the CM said, adding "instructions have been issued to the department concerned". Kumar hailed the "big role" played by anganwadi sevikas and sahayikas in "improving the nourishment and overall wellbeing of children and pregnant women". "Since we came to power in November 2005, various schemes have been launched for the welfare of children and pregnant women. Recognising the role played by anganwadis in the implementation of these measures, we have decided to incentivise them", the JD(U) president added. Over the past few years, the NDA government in the state has announced a plethora of

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

Bihar polls in sight, Nitish Kumar announces women's employment scheme

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the new employment initiative aims to empower women while expanding local job opportunities, helping reduce the need for people to leave Bihar for work

PM Modi launches development projects worth ₹6,880 cr in Bihar's Gayaji

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched several projects, including the 660 MW Buxar thermal power plant, worth a total of Rs 6,880 crore in Bihar's Gayaji district on Friday, officials said. The PM also flagged off two trains -- Amrit Bharat Express between Gayaji and Delhi and Buddhist Circuit train between Vaishali and Koderma. The latter will give a boost to tourism and pilgrimage across key Buddhist sites in the region. The Buxar thermal power plant will significantly enhance power generation capacity, improve energy security, and meet the growing electricity demand of the region, they said. Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and several Union ministers, state ministers, MPs and MLAs were also present on the occasion. The PM also inaugurated the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre at Muzaffarpur. The medical facility includes advanced oncology OPD and IPD wards, operation theatres, modern

Bihar CM transfers ₹456 crore to bank accounts of flood-hit families

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday transferred over Rs 456 crore directly to the bank accounts of more than 6.51 lakh families affected by the recent flood. Each family hit by the deluge received Rs 7,000 as gratuitous relief, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) here. The amount was transferred at a function held at the official residence of the CM in Patna. A total sum of Rs 456.12 crore was transferred directly to the bank accounts of 6,51,602 flood-affected families in 12 districts," the CMO statement said. The CM had recently announced an increase in the gratuitous relief money from Rs 6,000 per family to Rs 7,000. A large number of people have been affected by the floods in Bihar, where several rivers are in spate due to torrential rain in the past 24 hours, officials said on Wednesday. The affected districts include Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Samastipur, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Khagaria, Bhagalpur and Katihar, the ..

Bihar Assembly polls: The votes that built Nitish Kumar's stronghold

Ahead of Assembly polls, Bihar CM sharpens women-focused agenda with domicile quota, banking on female voters' rising clout and support

Nitish announces 'special economic packages' to boost investment in Bihar

In a bid to promote investments in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced several "special economic packages" for the investors. The CM announced the government's decision in a social media post. In a post on X, he wrote, "Our government has set a target to provide jobs and employment to one crore youths in the next five years. The government is encouraging those setting up industries and pursuing self-employment in the state by providing various facilities." "Now, entrepreneurs setting up industries in Bihar will be given a special economic package. To encourage private sectors to set up industries in Bihar, the government has decided to provide a special economic package," he added. All these facilities will be provided to entrepreneurs for setting up industries within the next six months. In addition, several other provisions have been made to significantly assist entrepreneurs setting up industries in the state. A detailed notification in this regard will be .

Nitish Kumar cuts preliminary exam fee in Bihar to ₹100; Mains to be free

The decision, which will likely benefit lakhs of youth in Bihar, was announced just a few months before the assembly elections in the state

Legacy of U-turns: Timeline of Nitish Kumar's alliance shifts over a decade

From Lalu Prasad's RJD to BJP to RJD to BJP again and back, Nitish Kumar's shifting alliances have redrawn Bihar's political map more than once. Here's how and why he flipped

Bihar CM assures teachers of district choice in transfer postings

Kumar said the Education Department has been instructed to consider these preferences and ensure teachers are placed in their chosen or nearby areas

Bihar Cabinet reserves 85% of teaching jobs for natives ahead of polls

Bihar cabinet gives nod to domicile policy in teachers' recruitment; more than 50 per cent of seats were already reserved for residents of the state

Nitish Kumar announces domicile policy for Bihar teacher jobs before polls

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday announced a 'domicile policy' in the recruitment of government teachers. The CM, however, did not specify what percentage of recruitments was to be reserved for those born and raised in the state. The announcement came ahead of the assembly elections in the state, which are due this year. "The Education Department has been directed to make necessary amendments to the relevant rules to give priority to the residents (domicile) of Bihar in the recruitment of teachers," Kumar said in a post on X. "Since the formation of the government in November 2005, we have been continuously working to improve the education system. A large number of teachers have been appointed to strengthen the education system," he said. This will be implemented from the Teachers Recruitment Exam (TRE)-4, which will be conducted this year, while TRE-5 will be held in 2026, the chief minister said. Instructions have also been given to conduct Secondary Teachers Eligibi

Patna's ₹422 cr flyover caves in after rains, just 2 months post launch

A portion of Patna's ₹422 crore double-deck flyover, spanning 2.1 km from Gandhi Maidan to Science College, caved in after heavy rain - barely two months after its June 11 inauguration

Rivers in spate after heavy rain in Bihar, CM urges officials to stay alert

The water levels in several rivers in Bihar have risen due to heavy rain in the last 24 hours, officials said on Sunday. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed all officials concerned to remain alert. According to the latest district-wise rainfall bulletin issued by the Meteorological Department on Sunday, "Light to moderate rain was recorded in many districts, including Patna, Banka, Muzaffarpur, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Buxar, Gayaji, Jehanabad, Kaimur, Katihar, Khagaria, Munger, Nalanda and Vaishali since August 2." Several key roads and many low-lying areas in Patna were waterlogged following incessant rain in the state capital on Sunday. The Meteorological Department issued an 'orange' alert (be prepared) for several districts, including Patna, Gayaji, Jamui, Aurangabad, Khagaria, Banka, Vaishali, Samastipur, Seikhpura, Lakhisarai, East Champaran, Arwal, West Champaran and Nawada for the next 48 hours. Officials of the state Water Resources Department (WRD) said that ...

Nitish Kumar doubles pay for school, health workers ahead of Bihar polls

Cooks, watchmen, instructors, ASHAs, Mamta workers see wage hikes in Bihar; ₹882 cr Janki Mandir plan to be launched August 8

Bihar polls in sight, Nitish Kumar announces hike for ASHA, Mamta workers

Announcing the decision, Nitish Kumar said that the enhanced incentive amount would boost the morale of ASHA, Mamta workers

Nitish govt bets on youth commission, women's quota to tackle migration

Two Cabinet decisions - 35 per cent reservation for permanent resident women in state government jobs, and the formation of the Bihar Youth Commission - have been rolled out with a promise

Bihar govt to constitute commission for upliftment of sanitation workers

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday announced that the state government would soon constitute a 'Safai Karmachari Commission' for the socio-economic upliftment of sanitation workers. He announced the decision in a post on X. "I am pleased to inform that I have directed the department to constitute the Bihar State Safai Karmachari Commission to ensure the protection, welfare, rehabilitation, social upliftment, grievance redressal, and monitoring of various welfare schemes for the rights and interests of sanitation workers in Bihar," the chief minister said. This commission will provide suggestions related to the interests of sanitation workers, advise the government on the protection of their rights, and take appropriate action to review and implement welfare schemes related to those engaged in sanitation work, he added. "The Bihar State Safai Karmachari Commission will consist of one chairperson, one vice-chairperson, and five members, including one woman/transgender. This

Bihar govt hikes monthly pension of retired journos by ₹9K ahead of polls

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced an increase in the pension of retired journalists under the 'Bihar Patrakar Samman' scheme by Rs 9,000 per month. Now, all eligible retired journalists, registered with the Bihar government, will receive Rs 15,000 per month instead of the earlier monthly emolument of Rs 6,000. The decision comes ahead of assembly polls scheduled later this year. Announcing this decision, the CM, in a post on X on Saturday, wrote: "I am pleased to inform that under the 'Bihar Patrakar Samman' pension scheme, instructions have been given to provide a monthly pension of Rs 15,000 instead of Rs 6,000 to all eligible journalists." Additionally, in the event of the death of a journalist receiving pension under the scheme, instructions have been given to provide their dependent/spouse with a lifetime monthly pension of Rs 10,000 instead of the earlier amount of Rs 3,000, he wrote. "Journalists play a crucial role in democracy. They are the fourth pillar of