Bihar cabinet unveils major welfare and development projects

New pension scheme for artists, agricultural boost, and cultural heritage development approved ahead of elections

Patna: The Bihar Cabinet, in a pre-election move, cleared 24 proposals on Tuesday, including the launch of the Chief Minister Artist Pension Scheme. This new scheme will provide a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to senior and distinguished artistes facing livelihood crises.

S. Siddhartha, Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat, announced several key approvals. The Chief Minister Guru Shishya Parampara Yojana received administrative approval of Rs 1.11 crore for 2025-26 to promote traditional methods and skills. For the financial year 2025-26, Rs 36.35 crore was granted for the centrally-sponsored National Mission on Natural Farming Scheme.

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The Cabinet also approved Rs 80.99 crore for the Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension Scheme under the Fourth Agriculture Road Map, benefiting the Bihar Agriculture Management & Extension Training Institute (BAMETI) and district-level agricultural technology management agencies for 2025-26. Additionally, Rs 30.49 crore was approved for establishing soil testing laboratories under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

In terms of personnel, the contract of Rajiv Kumar as Director in the Bihar Legislative Assembly Secretariat was extended for one year from July 1, 2025. Similarly, the re-appointment of retired Additional Superintendent of Police (Special Task Force), Ramakant Prasad, was extended for one year from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

Elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Gram Kachahari in Bihar will now receive grant facilities from the Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance Fund for their treatment.

A significant cultural development saw the Cabinet approve Rs 882.87 crore for the development of Punaura Dham, the birthplace of Mata Sita in Sitamarhi district, aligning with the development of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra in Ayodhya.

Under the Chief Minister’s Pratigya Yojana, the government aims to benefit 5,000 youth in 2025-26, and one lakh youth annually from 2026-27 to 2030-31 through internships and skill development initiatives.

Finally, the Health Department’s agenda was approved, allocating 20.60 acres of non-cultivated land free of cost for the construction of a medical college in Araria, aiming to strengthen the state’s health infrastructure.