Patna: The Bihar cabinet has approved an ambitious plan to generate one crore jobs and employment opportunities across the state over the next five years, in a move aimed at boosting economic development and reducing unemployment.
The proposal, submitted by the Labour Resources Department, envisions job creation between 2025 and 2030 in both government and private sectors, including businesses receiving any form of government support. “This decision will help improve the financial condition of the youth and attract investment, thereby spurring industrial activity,” said S Siddharth, Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat Department, at a post-cabinet briefing.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar chaired the meeting, during which 30 proposals were approved. A 12-member high-level committee, led by the Development Commissioner, will be formed to explore implementation strategies. The panel will include department heads from finance, administration, education, rural development, tourism, IT, and others.
Rs 5 lakh Compensation for Businessmen’s Accidental Deaths
In a significant welfare initiative, the cabinet also cleared the “Bihar Vyavsayi Durghatna Mrityu Anudan Yojana, 2025”, which will offer Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to the families of registered businesspersons in the state who die in accidents. The scheme applies to both state residents and GST-registered business owners operating in Bihar.
Honorarium for BLOs and School Staff Aid
The cabinet approved a one-time honorarium of Rs 6,000 each for 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and 8,245 supervisors involved in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. A total of Rs 51.68 crore has been sanctioned for the initiative.
Additionally, Rs 394.41 crore has been allocated as a grant-in-aid for secondary and higher secondary schools to compensate teaching and non-teaching staff. The move follows the state’s withdrawal of the unaided education policy.
Metro Maintenance and Infrastructure Projects
Patna Metro Rail Project also received attention, with the cabinet approving Rs 179.37 crore for the maintenance of the priority corridor from August 2025 to March 2028. Another Rs 21.15 crore was sanctioned to rent a three-car trainset for three years, with metro services expected to begin between Malahi Pakri and New ISBT.
Further, Rs 7832.29 crore has been earmarked for the expansion and modernisation of the Western Kosi Canal Project, set to benefit 36 blocks across Darbhanga and Madhubani districts with irrigation for over two lakh hectares. The project is targeted for completion by March 2029.
Polytechnic and Engineering College Upgrades
The cabinet approved Rs 80 crore for upgrading 46 polytechnic institutes and Rs 90 crore for 38 government engineering colleges to procure machinery, equipment, and computers for their workshops and labs.
Other Approvals
- Rs 5,119 crore for development of Munger (Safiyabad)–Bariyarpur–Ghorghat–Sultanganj road (42 km) under the Ganga Path Project.
- Rs 4,849 crore for Sultanganj–Bhagalpur–Sabour stretch (40.8 km), also under Ganga Path, to be executed via Hybrid Annuity Model.
- 30% additional basic pay (capped at Rs 25,000 monthly) for Bomb Disposal Squad personnel.
- Annual increments for Bihar Judicial Service officers, effective retrospectively from January 1, 2016, aligning with state government norms.
