Patna: Acute shortages of doctors, drinking water and higher education facilities emerged as the most pressing public concerns in Bihar during the recent budget session of the state legislature, according to an analysis of questions raised by MLAs.
Data from the budget session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly show that lawmakers across party lines repeatedly flagged gaps in healthcare staffing, stalled tap water supply schemes and the absence of degree colleges at the block level. The findings are based on more than 3,800 questions asked across 49 departments over 19 days of proceedings.
Healthcare crisis: buildings without doctors
One of the most serious issues highlighted was the shortage of doctors and specialists. While hospitals, primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) have been constructed in several blocks, many remain non-functional due to lack of medical staff. MLAs said there are no paediatricians, gynaecologists or specialists in many government hospitals, and diagnostic facilities such as X-ray and ultrasound machines lie unused due to the absence of technicians.
Of the 387 questions directed at the health department, nearly 38 percent focused on the urgent need for doctors. Lawmakers collectively demanded the immediate appointment of more than 2,000 doctors, around 65 percent of them specialists. Paediatricians, orthopaedic surgeons and physicians were among the most sought-after specialists, particularly in districts such as Motihari, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur and Gaya. In addition, 34 questions sought the opening of 41 new health sub-centres, with maximum demand from Motihari, Bettiah and Araria.
Tap water schemes under fire
Drinking water supply under the tap water scheme triggered repeated disruptions in the House. Over 50 MLAs complained that while pipelines and taps have reached villages, water supply has not begun or remains erratic. Officials acknowledged that more than 23,000 schemes are currently non-functional due to poor maintenance, damaged pipelines, faulty motors and storage tanks.
The issue escalated to the Speaker’s chamber, where a special review meeting was held with officials of the public health engineering department. Legislators warned that nearly 45,000 villages face the risk of acute water scarcity with the onset of summer. The Speaker directed the department minister to conduct district-wise reviews to restore supply.
Degree colleges dominate education debate
Education, especially access to higher education, dominated the budget session debates. Following Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s announcement to open a degree college in every block, MLAs intensified demands for new institutions. Seventy lawmakers sought the opening of 80 degree colleges across 32 districts.
Out of 134 questions addressed to the higher education department, nearly 60 percent related to the establishment of new degree colleges. Government data show that out of 534 blocks in Bihar, 213 currently do not have a constituent or affiliated degree college. These blocks have been prioritised in the first phase, with the academic session scheduled to begin from July 2026. Until permanent buildings are constructed, classes will be held in newly built plus-two school premises. The government has also announced plans to develop 55 old and reputed colleges as centres of excellence.
Budget session sees record question hour
The 18th Assembly witnessed its first full-fledged question hour during a budget session. With a weakened opposition, question hour ran smoothly for 18 out of 19 days, with minimal disruptions. A total of 3,605 starred and 203 short-notice questions were answered by the government.
During the session, the House was led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha, along with senior minister Vijay Choudhary.
Administrative reorganisation demands rejected
The general administration department faced 34 questions, largely centred on demands for new subdivisions and blocks. MLAs sought the creation of eight new subdivisions, including Saria, Jokihat, Sakra, Ghosi, Barbigha, Dehri, Pakriwarawan and Islampur, along with 10 new blocks. The government rejected these demands, stating that there is currently no proposal to create new subdivisions or blocks.
Industry focus limited, food processing leads
Despite the state government’s push to attract industries after the 2025 elections, interest from legislators remained limited. Only 38 questions were asked to the industries department, with one-third focusing on food processing units. MLAs demanded food parks and processing plants for crops such as maize, litchi, banana and mango. There were also calls for cement plants and new industrial areas in 15–17 districts.
Roads, land issues and policing
The rural works department received the highest number of questions after health and education, with 507 queries. These included demands for over 200 new rural roads, 130 bridges, 45 bypasses and 35 link roads.
Land and revenue department questions reflected public distress over encroachment and land disputes. Nearly 43 percent of the questions sought action against illegal encroachment, while others focused on action against land mafias, errors in land records and mutation processes. The home department faced 180 questions, with demands for new police stations, outposts and fencing of graveyards across the state.
Overall, the budget session highlighted a clear gap between infrastructure creation and service delivery in Bihar, with lawmakers repeatedly stressing that buildings, schemes and announcements must translate into doctors on duty, water in taps and colleges that actually function on the ground.
