Patna: Bihar is witnessing a major employment boom, with the state government under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar claiming to have provided government jobs to over 9.6 lakh young people since 2020. The state is now aiming to set a national record by offering jobs or employment opportunities to 50 lakh individuals within a five-year period.
The recruitment drive, described by the state government as “historic,” includes mass appointments across police, education, health, and other key sectors. On Saturday alone, 21,391 youths were inducted into the police force, with Chief Minister Kumar personally distributing appointment letters in a ceremony – one of more than 10 such events he has led in recent years.
Currently, recruitment is under way for approximately 2 lakh posts across various departments. Employment generation extends beyond government roles; the state claims that 24 lakh people have been engaged in industrial and entrepreneurial ventures, with a significant number finding work in Muzaffarpur’s Bela Industrial Area, Bhojpur’s Geedha, and Bihta.
Bihar’s Udyami Yojana (entrepreneurship scheme) has also supported over 40,000 small business owners in launching their ventures, which in turn have created additional jobs. Women, in particular, have seen gains through self-help groups promoting self-employment and micro-enterprises.
The employment push follows Kumar’s 2020 pledge to offer 10 lakh government jobs and facilitate employment for another 10 lakh under his government’s “Saat Nischay 2” (Seven Resolves Part 2) agenda. These targets have since been revised upwards to 12 lakh government jobs and 38 lakh employment opportunities, with officials stating they are on track to meet or exceed them ahead of this year’s election.
Record Teacher Appointments
A standout achievement in the state’s employment strategy has been the large-scale recruitment of teachers through the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC). In a policy shift implemented in 2023, teacher appointments moved under BPSC’s purview.
Since then, three rounds of hiring have resulted in 2.66 lakh new teaching jobs, with another 42,918 school principal appointments. The total number of BPSC-appointed educators now stands at over 3.09 lakh. Notable mass distribution events have been held at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, including one in November 2023 that saw over 1.2 lakh teachers receive appointment letters.
Police and Civil Recruitment Expands
The police sector has also seen “bumper recruitment”, according to state officials. On June 28, over 21,000 constables were appointed in Patna. This follows the October 2024 appointment of 1,239 sub-inspectors, including Bihar’s first transgender officers, marking a milestone in inclusive hiring.
The state continues to make large appointments in other sectors. In February 2025, over 6,800 junior engineers and instructors were recruited. March 2025 saw 715 Urdu translators appointed, and more than 35,000 positions in the health department are currently being filled.
Further Expansion Planned
The Nitish Kumar-led government has also approved the creation of thousands of new posts, with recruitment for around 2 lakh more positions expected in the coming months.
Officials in Patna say the employment initiative is operating in “mission mode” to fulfil the state’s revised target of providing jobs and livelihoods to 50 lakh people over five years — a figure they say would be a national benchmark.
