The Bihar Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, approved 29 agenda items spanning tourism promotion, infrastructure expansion, land acquisition, and administrative reforms. The decisions signal a concerted push by the state government to diversify Bihar's economic base and improve connectivity to its heritage sites.

Heli-Tourism and Air Tourism Takes Off

Among the headline approvals is the Chief Minister's Heli-Tourism and Air Tourism Service Scheme 2026, designed to make Bihar's major pilgrimage and heritage destinations accessible via helicopter circuits. In its first phase, the scheme will cover Valmiki Nagar, Maa Mundeshwari Temple, and Rajgir, with six-plus-two seater helicopters operating dedicated tourism routes connecting these sites.

The Cabinet also approved helicopter joyrides over Patna every Saturday and Sunday, priced at ₹2,100 per person — marking the state's first structured aerial sightseeing service over its capital.

Homestay Scheme and Pilgrimage Assistance

To widen accommodation options for tourists and spur local entrepreneurship, the Chief Minister's Homestay Promotion Scheme 2026 was cleared. Key provisions include registering homestays with up to 8 rooms, a capital subsidy of ₹2.5 lakh per room, and a maximum subsidy cap of ₹10 lakh for up to 4 rooms.

The Cabinet additionally approved the Indus Darshan Pilgrimage Financial Assistance Scheme 2026, under which Bihar residents undertaking the pilgrimage for religious, spiritual, cultural, or tourism purposes will receive ₹20,000 per traveller.

Infrastructure and Land Acquisition Decisions

The Cabinet sanctioned ₹30.65 crore for the acquisition of approximately 781 acres of land in the Chand and Chainpur blocks of Kaimur district for the proposed Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata Expressway project. Separately, 50 acres of Bihar government land were permanently transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs for the establishment of a security force facility in Gaya.

Measures for developing greenfield satellite townships under the Bihar Raiyati Land Purchase Policy 2026 were also cleared, authorising the Bihar State Housing Board to purchase land in proposed township areas.

Administrative and Recruitment Reforms

New divisional service rules governing recruitment and service conditions for General Clerks across multiple departments were approved. The Cabinet also amended the 2023 rules relating to direct government recruitment of outstanding sportspersons from Bihar, broadening pathways for athletes entering state service.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat, said the Council of Ministers had cleared schemes designed to improve connectivity, encourage tourism, and facilitate development projects across the state.

What's Next

Implementation timelines for the heli-tourism circuits and homestay subsidy disbursements are yet to be formally notified. The expressway land acquisition in Kaimur and the Gaya security facility transfer are expected to move into execution in the coming months, with the broader package reflecting Bihar's effort to attract investment while modernising its administrative framework.