Patna: The Planning and Development Department of Bihar government outlined major achievements and ongoing initiatives during a press conference held at Suchna Bhavan here on Wednesday. The department highlighted its role in planning, funding, and monitoring state schemes, coordinating with the central government, and ensuring data-driven policy implementation.
Key responsibilities of the department include formulating and monitoring the state’s annual scheme, approving projects through the Public Finance Committee, reviewing expenditures, coordinating with NITI Aayog, collecting planning-related data, and implementing flagship programmes such as the Chief Minister’s Self-Help Allowance Scheme and Area Development Scheme. It also oversees the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme, Panchayat government building constructions, cemetery fencing, temple boundary walls, E-Kisan Bhavans, community halls for Mahadalit Development, border area development, aspirational districts and blocks programmes, and the dissemination of weather forecasts.
Financial Approvals and Scheme Implementation
For the financial year 2024-25, the Public Finance Committee recommended 586 schemes with a total cost of Rs 138,811.97 crore. For 2025-26, up to Dec 2025, 357 schemes have been recommended at a total cost of Rs 168,870.77 crore.
Under the Chief Minister’s Self-Help Allowance Scheme, 876,473 applicants who passed 12th or equivalent exams have received assistance totalling Rs 1,267.31 crore from Oct 2, 2016 to Dec 31, 2025. Since Oct 1, 2025 graduates in arts, science, and commerce have also been included, with 31,006 applicants receiving Rs 3.10 crore in benefits up to Dec 31, 2025.
The Chief Minister’s Area Development Scheme now allows an annual allocation of Rs 4 crore per Member of the Legislative Assembly. Between 2021-22 and 2025-26, Rs 3,633.25 crore has been spent completing 72,206 schemes, with 17,621 projects in progress. Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme, 11,108 out of 2,456 schemes recommended by the 18th Lok Sabha MPs have been completed, with Rs 11,764.86 lakh spent. Similarly, 12,190 out of 13,093 schemes from the 17th Lok Sabha have been completed at a cost of Rs 62,190.75 lakh. Rajya Sabha MPs’ schemes have seen 2,914 out of 3,792 projects completed with expenditure of Rs 26,195.41 lakh.
Construction of Panchayat government buildings continues, with 2,000 projects approved for 2023-24. Tenders for 1,978 buildings have been published, and 1,960 tenders finalised. Previous schemes under the State Plan have seen 1,162 out of 1,191 buildings completed, while the Bihar Panchayat Strengthening Scheme has completed 293 out of 304 buildings.
Other key achievements include 3,893 cemetery enclosures, 538 temple boundary walls, 186 E-Kisan Bhavans, and 1,171 Mahadalit community halls completed. A State PMG Portal has been developed to monitor projects over Rs 50 crore, resolving 257 issues out of 87 projects.
Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programmes
NITI Aayog has allocated Rs 275.26 crore to Bihar’s 13 aspirational districts, covering health, education, agriculture, financial inclusion, and infrastructure. The Aspirational Blocks Programme, launched by the Prime Minister on Jan 7, 2023 includes 500 backward blocks nationwide, including 61 blocks from 27 districts in Bihar. Rs 20.5 crore has been allocated as incentives under this programme.
Institutional Developments
The department has established the “Viksit Bihar Strategy Room” to promote transparent, data-driven policy-making and formed the State Institution for Transformation to enhance strategic planning and monitoring. Staffing updates include the appointment of 1,160 of 1,298 sanctioned Junior Engineers, 41 Assistant Engineers, and recruitment underway for statistics officers and support staff.
Agriculture and Economic Growth
Bihar reported notable agricultural output in 2024-25: rice production reached 9,934.02 metric tons (up 4.32%), maize 6,602.96 metric tons (up 12.58%), wheat 7,826.99 metric tons (up 7.12%), and pulses 392.23 metric tons (up 3.54%). The state ranked fifth in rice, second in maize, sixth in wheat, and 11th in pulses nationally.
The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at current prices grew by 13.09%, while growth at constant prices (2011-12) was 8.64%. Per capita GSDP at current prices reached Rs 76,490.
