Patna: Bihar’s Minority Welfare Department has announced a major expansion of minority education infrastructure, with four new minority residential schools set to begin academic activities from August 17. The move will increase the total number of operational minority residential schools in the state from two to six.
Minority Welfare Minister Mohammad Zama Khan said the newly completed residential schools at Jamui, Nalanda, Kaimur and Muzaffarpur will commence their first academic session later this month. The schools will join the existing institutions in Darbhanga and Kishanganj, which are already operational.
The announcement was made during a departmental briefing attended by Minority Welfare Department Secretary Mohammad Sohail, Special Secretary-cum-Director Amir Afaque Ahmad Faizi, Additional Secretary Ibrar Ahmad Khan, and other senior officials.
Bold Plans to Expand Minority Residential Schools
The department has been implementing the Bihar State Minority Residential School Scheme since 2018-19 with the objective of establishing at least one residential minority school in every district.
According to the Minister, approval has already been granted for constructing minority residential schools in 24 districts. These institutions provide free residential education for Classes IX to XII, including boarding, lodging and textbooks, for meritorious students from minority communities.
Strong Academic Performance in Existing Schools
Highlighting the performance of the existing schools, Department Secretary Mohammad Sohail said around 90% of students from the Darbhanga and Kishanganj residential schools secured first division in Class X and XII examinations.
He added that 20 out of 29 students receiving coaching qualified for IIT-JEE, while 38 out of 46 students cleared NEET, reflecting the institutions’ academic outcomes.
Madrasas to Get Smart Classrooms and Skill Development
The department also announced plans to modernise madrasa education by introducing online smart classrooms in collaboration with Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic and Persian University and the Bihar State Madrasa Education Board.
Students studying in madrasas will also receive skill development training in association with the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) to improve employment opportunities.
Alongside traditional education, madrasa students are being taught Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science to enhance their competitiveness in higher education and the job market.
BPSC Requisition Sent for 288 Teacher Posts
The Minority Welfare Minister said the department has sent a requisition to the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) to recruit 288 teachers through TRE 4.0 for minority residential schools.
The state government has also approved 481 teaching and non-teaching posts for the operation of 13 minority residential schools across Bihar.
459 Block Minority Welfare Officers to Be Recruited
The department has also forwarded a proposal to BPSC for recruiting 459 Block Minority Welfare Officers (BMWOs) and one District Minority Welfare Officer (DMWO) through the 71st BPSC Combined Competitive Examination.
In addition, requisitions for 459 Lower Division Clerk posts have already been submitted to the Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) through the General Administration Department.
At present, BMWOs are posted in 75 minority-dominated blocks, but the government plans to appoint officers in all 534 blocks to improve monitoring and implementation of welfare schemes.
Entrepreneurship Scheme Benefits Thousands
The Minister said the Mukhya Mantri Udyami Yojana, launched in 2023 to encourage entrepreneurship among minority youth, has continued to expand.
During 2025-26, loans worth ₹100 crore were disbursed to 1,247 beneficiaries. Overall, 3,741 beneficiaries have received financial assistance amounting to ₹270 crore under the scheme.
Higher Haj Registrations This Year
The Minister also reviewed the functioning of the Bihar State Haj Committee, stating that 2,526 pilgrims performed Haj through the committee during 2025-26.
For the 2026-27 Haj season, 3,637 applicants have completed the registration process.
