The Chief Minister's Office of Bihar announced on Monday, 27 July 2026 that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed the establishment of Pradhan Mantri Pashu Jan Aushadhi Kendras in every block of the state, with a total of 1,000 centres to be developed across Bihar to supply affordable and quality veterinary medicines to livestock keepers. In his statement, CM Nitish Kumar said — 'pashupalakon ko sasti evam gunavattapurna pashu aushadhiyan uplabdh karane ke liye rajya ke pratyek prakhnd mein Pradhan Mantri Pashu Jan Aushadhi Kendra sthapit kiye jayenge' — meaning: 'To provide cheap and quality animal medicines to livestock keepers, Pradhan Mantri Pashu Jan Aushadhi Kendras will be established in every block of the state.'

Context

The announcement targets one of Bihar's most economically vulnerable communities: small and marginal farmers who depend on livestock and dairy for supplementary household income. High veterinary medicine costs have long been cited as a barrier to productive animal husbandry in the state's rural districts. The new centres are designed to bring down that cost burden at the grassroots level.

Policy Backdrop

The scheme is modelled on the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana, launched in 2015 by the central government to sell quality generic medicines at low prices through dedicated outlets for human healthcare. The Bihar government is now extending that template to veterinary care — a step that mirrors discussions already underway at the national level about adapting the Jan Aushadhi framework to animal health. By naming the centres after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the scheme follows the established pattern of state governments branding welfare initiatives in alignment with central schemes to maximise political and administrative traction. Bihar has a consistent record of expanding subsidised inputs in the animal husbandry sector. Earlier interventions have included subsidised cattle insurance, artificial insemination drives, and mobile veterinary units. The Pashu Jan Aushadhi network, if fully operationalised, would represent a more permanent, block-level infrastructure investment in veterinary supply chains.

Stakeholders and Impact

Bihar is home to a large rural population where livestock — cattle, buffaloes, goats, and poultry — form a critical secondary income source alongside agriculture. Access to affordable veterinary medicines directly affects the health of animals, milk yield, and ultimately the earnings of households that cannot afford private veterinary care. With 1,000 centres spread across every prakhnd (block) in the state, the scheme is intended to ensure last-mile access rather than concentrating services in district headquarters. Small farmers and women engaged in dairy farming are among the primary intended beneficiaries.

What's Next

The critical variables now are state budget allocations for establishing and running the 1,000 centres, the timeline for operationalising them block by block, and the procurement and supply-chain arrangements for stocking veterinary medicines at scale. Officials and livestock-keeper groups will be watching whether the rollout maintains the quality standards and price controls that define the Jan Aushadhi model. A credible implementation schedule from the Bihar government would be the next milestone to watch.