Patna: The Bihar government on Thursday formally launched the next phase of its Chief Minister’s Fellowship Programme, with 106 selected fellows attending an orientation programme in Patna before beginning assignments across various levels of the state administration.
The orientation was organised by the Bihar Prashasnik Sudhar Mission Society (BPSMS), under the General Administration Department, at the Convention Hall of the Old Secretariat.
The programme was attended by Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of the General Administration Department and Mission Director of BPSMS, Dr B Rajender, along with officials from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bodh Gaya and BPSMS.
‘Viksit Bihar 2047’ At The Core Of Fellowship
Addressing the fellows, Dr Rajender said the programme had been designed to contribute to the state’s long-term vision of “Viksit Bihar 2047”.
He described the fellowship as distinct from conventional recruitment programmes, emphasising that participants would play a direct role in governance and development initiatives while simultaneously learning from the administrative system.
“The contribution of young CM Fellows will be crucial in realising the vision of Bihar in 2047,” he said.
According to officials, Bihar is among the first states in the country to institutionalise such a large-scale fellowship programme within the government system.
Focus On Field-Based Governance
Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh urged fellows to engage closely with field realities and use evidence-based approaches to public policy.
He highlighted the state’s ongoing Sahyog Shivir initiative as an example of governance innovation aimed at strengthening last-mile service delivery.
“Data-driven changes are most visible on the ground,” Singh said, encouraging fellows posted in districts to study public service delivery mechanisms and governance outcomes firsthand.
He also advised participants to regularly consult the Economic Survey of India and the Bihar Economic Survey as part of their learning and policy engagement.
Programme Developed With IIM Bodh Gaya
The Chief Minister’s Fellowship Scheme was approved by the Bihar cabinet in September 2025 under the state’s Good Governance Programme.
The initiative was developed in collaboration with IIM Bodh Gaya and seeks to strengthen governance systems by bringing talented young professionals into closer contact with policymakers, senior administrators and implementation agencies.
The government says the programme is intended to improve policy implementation, encourage innovation and foster collaboration within the administrative framework.
Fellows To Serve Across Government
While the scheme initially envisaged the selection of 121 fellows, 106 candidates successfully cleared the recruitment process.
The fellows have been assigned to different tiers of government administration for a period of two years.
According to officials:
- Six fellows have been posted in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and Deputy Chief Minister’s Office with a monthly honorarium of Rs 1.5 lakh.
- Four fellows have been attached to the offices of the Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner with a monthly honorarium of Rs 1.25 lakh.
- Forty fellows have been placed in various Secretariat departments and will receive Rs 1 lakh per month.
- Fifty-seven fellows have been posted with Divisional Commissioners, District Magistrates and Municipal Commissioners, where they will receive a monthly honorarium of Rs 80,000.
Building Administrative Capacity
During the orientation programme, fellows were briefed on the objectives of the scheme, their expected roles and responsibilities, and the ways in which they can contribute to strengthening governance and public service delivery.
Officials said the programme is expected to serve as a bridge between professional expertise and public administration, helping Bihar develop innovative solutions to governance challenges while creating a new generation of policy professionals with hands-on experience in government.
