Bihar Budget 2025-26: Nitish Kumar Government Prioritizes Women, Farmers, and Youth with New Schemes
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The Nitish Kumar administration is set to unveil the Bihar Budget 2025-26, focusing on women, farmers, and youth. Key highlights include new schemes for self-help groups, subsidies for entrepreneurs, and initiatives to address unemployment and improve rural infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- Focus on women, farmers, and youth.
- Introduction of new self-help group programs.
- Subsidies aimed at entrepreneurs and industrial investment.
- Expansion of rural infrastructure and electrification.
- Increased pensions and health insurance for vulnerable groups.
Patna, March 3 (NationPress) The Nitish Kumar administration is poised to unveil the Bihar Budget 2025-26 on Monday, as Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Samrat Choudhary presents it in the Assembly.
This will mark the final budget before the forthcoming Assembly elections in Bihar.
The state government is anticipated to concentrate on significant voter demographics: women, farmers, and youth, and is projected to incorporate special initiatives aimed at rural communities, the jobless, and the economically disadvantaged. Major highlights may include new programs for self-help groups, financial aid for entrepreneurs, direct benefit transfers, unique incentives for irrigation, crop insurance, input subsidies, and industrial investment subsidies to tackle rising unemployment, alongside the expansion of rural roads, housing developments, and electrification.
The Nitish Kumar administration is expected to prioritize education and youth engagement to enhance scholarships, skill development initiatives, and job-focused training.
As Bihar approaches Assembly elections, this budget might introduce populist strategies intended to bolster the NDA’s attractiveness.
The ongoing unemployment dilemma and the call for enhanced industrial investment could compel the government to implement daring reforms. The Nitish Kumar administration is likely to emphasize employment, women's empowerment, and farmers' welfare in this last pre-election budget.
Expansion of startup initiatives to foster self-employment among youth, an increase in the scope of MGNREGA to enhance rural employment, a commitment to creating 34 lakh jobs, alongside an announcement for six lakh government positions prior to the elections, a special package for women entrepreneurs with additional subsidies for small, medium, and large businesses, and dedicated fund allocation for Dalit women in business are also likely to be included.
The state government may consider raising pensions for women and the elderly in Bihar. The current pension of Rs 400/month could rise to Rs 1,000. A health insurance initiative for elderly women is also anticipated.
The Nitish Kumar administration is expected to provide subsidies on electricity and diesel for agricultural use to lower farming expenses, expand cold storage facilities for perishable goods, and offer seed subsidies for new crops to encourage farmers.
