Bihar Budget 2025-26 | 07 Mar 2025

Why in News? 

On 3rd March 2025, the Bihar Finance Minister presented a Rs 3.17 lakh crore budget in the state assembly, prioritizing education and women's empowerment. 

Key Points  

  • Key provisions of the budget: 
    • The total revenue expenditure in the financial year 2025-26 is estimated at Rs 2 lakh 52 thousand crore, which is 79.52% of the total expenditure. 
    • The highest provision of Rs 60,964 crore has been made on education. 
    • A provision of Rs 20 thousand crore was made for health and Rs 17 thousand crore for roads. 
    • Rs 17831 crore has been made for the Home Department, Rs 16043 crore for Rural Development, Rs 13484 crore for the Energy Department and more than Rs 13 thousand crore for the Social Welfare Department, SC, ST, Minority, Backward, Extremely Backward. 
    • Focus on women empowerment: 
      • Construction of pink toilets . 
      • Mahila Haats will be opened in Patna . 
      • Pink bus service will start (all drivers and conductors will be women). 
      • Hostels will be built for working women . 
      • Appointment of women tourist guides . 
      • Financial assistance for purchasing e-rickshaw. 
      • Increase in the number of women police personnel. 
      • Construction of 'Kanya Vivah Mandap' for the marriage of poor girls . 
    • Education and social welfare: 
      • The rate of scholarship will be doubled. 
      • Incentive amount will be increased for SC/ST and backward classes. 
    • Health and medical facilities 
      • Construction of a cancer hospital in Begusarai . 
      • 108 new urban medical centers will open in Bihar . 
      • Provision of a special care centre for cancer patients . 
    • Infrastructure and Transportation 
      • Construction of Purnia Airport will start soon. 
      • 8 new airports including Rajgir, Sultanganj, Raxaul, Madhubani will be built. 
      • 33% reservation for women in Bihar State Road Transport Corporation. 
    • Environment and Clean Energy 
      • Investment of Rs 1 crore for improving air quality. 
      • Solar plants will be installed along the canal banks at a cost of Rs 25 crore. 
    • Agriculture and Rural Development 
      • Market committees will be empowered. 
      • Stalls for selling vegetables will be opened at block level. 
      • Formation of vegetable production committee in all blocks. 
    • Migrant Biharis and tourism 
      • Help centres in various cities for migrant Biharis. 
      • Government assistance for home-stay facility for Chhath Puja . 
    • Industry and Trade 
      • Promotion to companies setting up compressed biogas plants. 
      • New incentive policy for pharmaceutical manufacturing companies.