Patna: The Bihar government has approved the creation of 460 new posts in the Commercial Tax Department as part of its ongoing focus on appointments in government departments. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, during the ongoing session of the state legislature.
Out of 39 proposals presented in the meeting, 38 were approved, according to government sources. Officials said the new appointments in the Commercial Tax Department would help facilitate business operations for traders. The government will also determine the office-wise classification and jurisdiction of officials assigned to these new positions. Currently, the department is responsible for collecting nearly 75% of the state’s revenue.
Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Samrat Choudhary welcomed the move, stating that the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017 had created a need for additional posts and departmental restructuring. “Approving these posts is a commendable step towards strengthening tax administration in the state,” he said.
Approval for Sports Events and Infrastructure Projects
In addition to tax department appointments, the cabinet also approved a Rs 24 crore budget to organize a men’s hockey tournament in Rajgir, following the success of the women’s hockey event. A rugby competition will also be introduced in Rajgir, with a separate allocation of Rs 4 crore.
The state government has also sanctioned Rs 30 crore for the construction of an auditorium at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Patna. Funds have been approved for drinking water supply projects in Jehanabad and Bhagalpur as well.
Additionally, the cabinet has extended the service of Sanjay Ojha, Chief Engineer (Design and Monitoring) in the Water Resources Department, and approved a proposal by the Law Department to dismiss two judges.
