Patna: Bihar is set to witness a cabinet expansion soon, with the new government reiterating its commitment to continue the policies and development initiatives of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary during a press conference on Wednesday.
He said Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has resolved to carry forward the previous government’s work and has already initiated steps in that direction. The proposed cabinet expansion is expected to further strengthen governance and policy implementation.
Highlighting developments in the education sector, Vijay Kumar Choudhary said Bihar has seen a significant decline in the number of students going outside the state for technical education. Improved access to quality education within the state is now creating better employment opportunities.
Under the ‘Saat Nischay’ initiative, engineering colleges have been established in all 38 districts, along with 46 polytechnic institutes. This has enabled students to pursue technical education closer to home at a lower cost. “Science and technology influence every aspect of life, and expanding technical education is a key step towards building the future,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister also reiterated that the state government is providing 33 per cent reservation for women and girls, aiming to enhance their participation in education and employment.
Officials present at the press conference included Director Ahmad Mahmood, State Board of Technical Education Secretary Chandrashekhar Singh, and Vice-Chancellor of Bihar Engineering University Suresh Kant Verma, along with other department officials.
Choudhary said Bihar is steadily emerging as a hub for technical education, with engineering and polytechnic colleges being set up across districts. He added that the establishment of Centres of Excellence has significantly improved the quality of education, leading to better campus placements. “Earlier, students had to go outside the state for studies, but now they are able to pursue education within their own districts,” he said.
Providing details on admissions, Department Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh said that for the 2025–26 academic session, 14,553 seats have been approved in engineering colleges and 17,243 seats in polytechnic institutes. He added that admissions are being offered at a nominal fee of Rs 10 for engineering colleges and Rs 5 for polytechnic institutes, making education accessible to economically weaker sections.
Due to the low fee structure, a large number of students from underprivileged backgrounds are now enrolling in technical courses. Officials said that so far, 15,246 students have secured jobs in private companies through campus placements.
The government believes these initiatives will further strengthen Bihar’s education ecosystem and contribute to long-term employment generation in the state.
