BihargovernmentpresentedRs 1.60lakhcrorebudgetAbdulBariSiddiqui,thethen financeministerofBihar

on27February2017presentedtheannualstatebudgetof2017-18inthelegislativeassembly.

Thesizeofthebudgetforthefiscalyear2017-18isRs160085lakhcrore.

Thestategovernmenthasnotintroducedanyfreshtax.

Among prominent sectors, education tops the list with the allocation pegged at Rs 14,217 crore, of the total outlay, followed by rural development with an allocation of Rs 9,725 crore, rural works ( Rs 8,516 crore), energy ( Rs 6,795 crore), social welfare (Rs5,949 crore), road construction (Rs 5,703 crore), health (3,567 crore) and urban development (Rs

2,734 crore).

The state’s fiscal deficit has been estimated at Rs 18,112 crore, which is 2.87 per cent of the gross state domestic

product (GSDP) estimated at Rs 632180.00 crore.

<3% as per 14th finance commission

During the 2014 general elections, JD(U) supremo NitishKumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, members of the Congress and various other regional parties formed what was called the Maha-gathbandhan (Grand Alliance) to counter the BJP wave.

The alliance won after which Nitish took the CM office.

However, following the embroilment of Lalu and certain members of his family, including son and Deputy chief minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav, in an illegal land holdings scam, Nitishbroke off the tie-up on July 27 and resigned from his post. He then formed a new alliance with the BJP and took oath again with Sushil Modi as his deputy in a late night development.

27newministersIn the 243-member House, a maximum of 37

ministers are allowed as per the constitutional provisions.

ChiefMinister NitishKumar incorporated14JD(U)MLAs,12BJPMLAsandoneLJPMLAin

thenewstategovernment.

The full list of the portfolios handed out is as follows:

CM Nitish Kumar: HomeDeputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi: Finance,Commerce

Krishna Nandan Prasad Verma: EducationRajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan: Water ResourcesMaheshwar Hazari: Building Construction

Vijendra Yadav: EnergyPramod Kumar– TourismVinod Narayan Jha– PHED

Suresh Kumar Sharma– Urban Development and HousingKumari Manju Verma– Social WelfareVijay Kumar Sinha– Labour Resources

Santosh Kumar Nirala– TransportRana Randhir Singh– Cooperative

Khurshid alias Feroz Ahmad– Minority Welfare and Sugarcane Development

Vinod Kumar Singh– Mines and Geology

Madan Sahni– Food and Consumer ProtectionKrishna Kumar Rishi– Art and Culture

Kapildeo Kamat– Panchayati RajDinesh Chandra Yadav– Minor Irrigation and Disaster

ManagementRamesh Rishideo– SC, ST Welfare

Brij Kishore Bind– Backward and EBC WelfarePashupati Paras– Animal and Fish Resources.

Bihar govt launched ‘nasha mukt’ state campaign

The state Government of Bihar led by Nitish Kumar launched a ‘NashaMukt’ (Addidction Free) State Campaign with the formation

of world’s largest human chain across the state.

Over two crore people participated in human chain including teachers and students of schools and colleges. The human chain that lasted for 45 minutes and was 11,292 km in length covering

all panchyats and blocks of the state.

Mega Festival on 350th Guru Gobind Singh ji Jayanti Organized in Patna

The 350th Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti was celebrated across the world on January 5, 2017.

Marking the occasion, a huge festival known as Prakash Utsav also known as Prakash Parv has been organized in Patna, Bihar– the birth

place of the Guru. ( The Tenth Sikh Guru ji).

The festival which is celebrated every year in Patna is attended by nearly 5 lakh devotees each year

The festival has been organized at the city’s iconic, sprawling Gandhi Maidan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Prakash Utsav and released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the occasion of 350th birth

anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.

Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna in 1666 to Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru and Mata Gujri. The current shrine of Patna Sahib or

Takht Sri Harmandirji Saheb, signifying the birth of Guru Gobind Singh was built in the 1950s over the remains of the structure erected by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the late 1830s which were damaged in the

deadly 1934 earthquake.

World’s first gender literature fest in Patna

The objective of this initiative is to create a platform, to exchange ideas, and to share and learn experiences of renowned people in the

field of gender literature.

The festival will also act as a platform to increase visibility for gender equity and advocacy in the State of Bihar

The fest was organized by Gender Resource Centre of Bihar’s Women Development Corporation

Bihar introduces third gender category in school exams

The Bihar government has introduced the transgender as a third category to opt for and appear in the Board exams

conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB).

It is for the first time that the Board will conduct the exams for the transgender category in 2017 after it was

recognized by Supreme Court in 2014

Bihar Government Prohibits State Officials from Consuming Liquor Anywhere In The World

The Bihar Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ruled out a new rule under which the no officials of the state government would be

allowed to consume liquor either in the state or outside the state and not even abroad.

This makes Bihar the first state to have such restrictions for officials and judges.

The cabinet amended the Bihar Government Servants’ Conduct Rules 1976 and approved the Bihar Judicial Officers Conduct Rules, 2017.

The 1976 conduct rules for government employees has barred them from consuming intoxicants at work place only. It would be

amended now to prohibit them from use of intoxicants everywhere in accordance with the spirit of new Liquor Law,

2016.

The total prohibition in force in Bihar stops trade and consumption of alcohol across the state and has made provision

of stringent penal action as well jail term ranging from 5-10 years for the violators.

Nitish Kumar cabinet okayed a proposal to name the International Convention Centre coming in state capital after Great king Ashoka.

Bihar celebrated its 105th Bihar Diwas on 22nd March

Bihar Diwas is celebrated to commemorate the foundation day of the state.

Bihar was carved out of united Bengal in 1912. Before that, Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa were part of the Bengal province during the British rule.

The Nitish government started celebrating Bihar Diwas in 2012 to mark its centenary.

It was a three day long celebration. The organizers h planned laser shows on all three days at Gandhi Maidan.

The laser show would be based on the theme of Mahatma Gandhi's Champaran visit in 1917 and prohibition in Bihar.

this year’s Bihar Diwas celebration was dedicated to “Nashamukti” (de-addiction) after the government’s implementation of the

prohibition on April 5 last year.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched free WiFi service in colleges and universities of the state to help students in their

studies

This move is to provide free- zones in colleges and universities which will be helpful for the student studies.

Government Establishes Banana Research Centre in Vaishali District of Bihar.

The Union government has established banana research centre at Goraulin Vaishali district of Bihar.

It will function under Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU) at Pusa in Samastipur.

It is second such in the country after the National Research Centre for Banana at Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu.

It will focus on the reasons for less production of banana and will work on expansion of its cultivation, plant protection, suitable utilisation of various parts of it such as pulp and fibre, marketing, processing, and

value addition etc.

2017 International Buddhist Conference Held in Bihar

The three days International Buddhist Conference 2017 was held at the Rajgir International Convention Centre (RICC) of Nav Nalanda Mahavira

Deemed University Rajgir, Bihar.

It was inaugurated jointly by Dalai Lama and Minister of Culture and Tourism Mahesh Sharma.

The conference was organized by the Union Ministry of Culture and Nava Nalanda Mahaviahra Deemed University.

Its main theme was Buddhism in the 21st Century – Perspectives and Responses to Global Challenges and Crises.

In this conference, 41-volume of the Pali Tripitaka by Dalai lama, reprinted by the Nava Nalanda University in

Devanagri script was also released.

Nava Nalanda University’s new department of the Buddhist Science, first of its kind in Asia was also

inaugurated.

Bihar sets up court for prohibition cases.

Bihar has set up its first special court for speedy trial in cases relating to violations of the new prohibition law that seeks a total ban on liquor in

the state.A first special court has been set up in Patna civil court here following a

directive of the Patna High Court for speedy trial of cases relating to violations of the new Bihar prohibition law.

This court will hear prohibition cases only of Patna district.The judge of the Special court - Justice Trilokinath Tiwari.

Last year, the state government requested the high court to set up special courts in all 38 districts for speedy trial in cases related to a total ban on liquor in the Bihar.

The liquor ban imposed by the Nitish Kumar government on April 5 last year.

Former Bihar minister Narsingh Baitha passed away

He was 100 years old

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced that his cremation would take place with state honour.

Baitha was elected MLA for three times from Bagha reserved seat since 1962.

Later, he represented Sikarpur reserved seat in West Champaran in the state Legislative Assembly in 1985.

He was minister in Congress government headed by Daroga Prasad Rai and Jagannath Mishra

Bihar’s ‘Project Jal Sanchay’ Chosen for National Award.

Project Jal Sanchay’, a water conservation model which is successfully adopted in Nalanda district of south-central Bihar, has been chosen for the national award for excellence in the Mahatma Gandhi national rural employment guarantee programme (MGNREGP) by the Ministry of Rural

Development.

Nalanda being an agriculture-oriented district remained affected by drought-like conditions that hampered the farming activities in the

district.

Under these circumstances, ‘project jal sanchay’ was launched under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (MGNREGP) to offset

the water crisis in the district.

Under the project, check dams and traditional Aahar-Pyne irrigation systems were created. In addition, traditional water bodies were desilted and

renovated. Campaigns about the usefulness of rainwater harvesting were also carried out.

The project was a mix of modern day techniques and technologies with traditional knowledge and got evolved into a holistic program to conserve

water. As a result of the implementation of the project, availability of water got improved drastically which positively impacted the farm production in the

district.

Nalanda varsity to collaborate with South Korean Institute.

The Nalanda University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with South Korea's Academy of Korean Studies for academic

cooperation.As per the MoU, the two universities have agreed to enhance the

bilateral ties through joint research programme, exchange of faculty members, mutual sharing of data for academic research, joint teaching, undertake joint research projects and symposiums.

The MoU will be in effect for five years.South Korea is one of the 17 countries that have signed the inter-

governmental MoU for supporting Nalanda University

JDU President Nitish Kumar sworn-in as Chief Minister of Bihar for 6th time.

On July 27, 2017, Janata Dal (United) President, Nitish Kumar took oath as Chief Minister of Bihar for 6th time.

Ending the grand alliance between his party, Congress and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Nitish Kumar will now form the new government with the

support of BJP-led NDA.Senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi also took oath as Deputy Chief Minister.

On July 26, 2017, after Nitish Kumar resigned as Chief Minister of Bihar on account of differences with RJD, BJP announced support for JD(U) and Nitish Kumar as chief

minister. BJP also added that it will be a part of the government

Mukhyamantri Vidyarthi Protsahan Yojana

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has launched Mukhyamantri Vidyarthi ProtsahanYojana in Lakhisarai to provide financial assistance for students of the state.

Under Mukhyamantri Vidyarthi Protsahan Yojana, the state government will provide Rs. 10,000 to the students who will pass 10th class with the 1st division.

Government will provide financial assistance for students to encourage them about their higher education.

The boy students will be benefited under Mukhyamantri Vidyarthi Protsahan Yojana

and

girl students will be benefited under Mukhyamantri Balika Protsahan Yojana Lakhisarai

LED tube lights, 5-star rated fans launched in Bihar under UJALA Scheme.

After the successful distribution of LED bulbs in Bihar, Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) launched LED tube light and five-star rated energy

efficient fans under Ujala scheme in Bihar.

Under the scheme, consumers would be able to buy five 20 watt LED tube lights at Rs 230 each and two five star rated energy efficient fans

at Rs 1150 each ‘Saat Nischay’ yojana, one scheme ‘Har Ghar Bijli’

EESL is a joint venture of NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation and POWERGRID.

In Bihar, EESL was planning to distribute 50 lakh 20 watt LED tube lights and two lakh star rated energy efficient fans to people on

upfront payment

Mukhyamantri Shram Shakti Yojana aims to provide technical training to the people belonging to minority community so that they can use these

skills in self-employment or in employment anywhere else

Under this scheme, the state government will provide free special training related to their work to the minority unemployed and workers

of the state of age between 18 to 45 years.

Under Mukhyamantri Shramshakti Yojna, minority/ Muslim artisans and literate labor will be provided Rs.1500-2000 per month per person to

refine and upgrade their skills.

After the training is over, they can also get a loan ofRs. 50,000/- at lower interest rates by Bihar State

Minority Financial Corporation for their self-employment.

Bihar State Minority Finance Corporation has organized these 6 months technical training for Minority

community/Muslims labors.

Muslim women, whose husbands or relatives leave them are entitled to get Rs 10,000 from Bihar government

Mukhyamantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana

Aim : To provide financial benefits to girl child. Those girl child who belongs to a BPL (below poverty line) families will get Rs. 2000 as financial aid.

This step will help to control female foeticide and focus on girl education in Bihar.

This yojna will avail education benefits to a girl child and will also overcome sex ratio in India.

Bihar government will invest an amount of Rs. 2000 in the name of girl child in Child Carrier Balance Plan of UTI Fund.

Main motives of Mukhyamantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana Bihar

To motivate girl child towards education.

To eliminate female foeticide in India.

To maintain the balance of sex ratio.

To promote women empowerment.

To increase girl child birth.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Bihar- 30216 Houses for Slums in Bihar

The government will distribute the houses to poor people who live in slums areas.

The government has decided to construct 30,216 houses in the first phase of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Bihar.

The government of Bihar will construct the houses in 85 cities of Bihar under Housing for All Scheme. The government has also given the approval to 85 Nagar

Nigam for the construction of houses under the scheme.

The poor people who don’t have their own house & who have live in Kaccha house will be eligible to get house under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Bihar

Under Housing For All Scheme state government will allot 25% & central government will allot 75% money for construction .

The government will provide Rs. 2 Lakh for the beneficiaries for construction house under this scheme. The government will provide

Rs. 50,000 in first installment, Rs. 1 Lakh in second installment & Rs.50, 000 in third installment. The government will transfer the

construction amount in bank account of beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Bihar.

Education, Employment & Financial Assistance for Handicapped People - Bihar

A plan for handicapped people called Mukhyamantri ViklangSashaktikaran Yojana has been started by Chief Minister of Bihar Mr.

Nitish Kumar.

This plan is specially mean for those helpless handicap people of the state who are not getting the basic necessities. Various benefits

& facilities will be provided to them

Benefits:

Scholarship & disability aids will be given to such people by the government.

Opportunity for Placement will also be offered to brighten the future of disable people & to make them aware towards their carrier.

Financial help will be provided for their daily expenses under this scheme.New schools will be opened for education, these schools will help them to continue

their studies.

Through this plan handicapped certificates will be given to physically disabled people of the state. These certificates will help them to get services such as bus service, train

service etc.

Rajya Samajik Suraksha Yojana Bihar

Rajya Samajik Suraksha Pension Yojana is a newly launched scheme by State Government. There is a provision to offer financial aid to

helpless, widows, disabled & bound labor over the age of 60 years in the state.

It is a Social Security Pension Scheme which works under the guidance of State Government of Bihar conducting by Chief Minister Mr. Nitish

Kumar.

Aged people between 60-65 years will be benefited through the consequences of this scheme.

More than 60 years old Disabled, widows & bonded labors whose total income is less than Rs. 5,500/- in cities & Rs. 5,000/- in rural areas each will get Rs. 100/- per month.

No age limit is fix for widows, workers & bonded labor. Under the central scheme, Rs. 75/- are provided to the old age pension holders. Bihar government is adding Rs. 25/-

in this scheme, now they will be provided Rs 100 per month.

Toxins in litchi fruit kill children in Bihar's Muzaffarpur

A team of researchers from the U.S. and India have found that consumption of the litchi fruit, along with skipping evening meals, can result in very low blood

glucose levels (less than 70 mg/dL) and acute encephalopathy, where brain functioning suffers.

Children in Muzaffarpur frequently spend the day eating litchis and some skip the evening meal. Skipping evening meal, by itself results in low

blood sugar levels during the night.

This is particularly so in the case of young children as they have limited hepatic glycogen reserves. Hypoglycin A and methylenecyclopropylglycine

(MCPG), which are naturally present in litchi fruit, make the condition worse.

The toxins block enzymes involved in normal glucose metabolism and this results in an inability to synthesis glucose leading to acutely low level of blood sugar. The build-up of other metabolic by-products could also have an adverse effect (encephalopathy) on the child. These two cause death

in many children.

Cabinet clears 5% interest subvention for crop loans

Amid growing protests over farm sector distress, the Cabinet has approved the extension of the interest subvention scheme for

farmers to 2017-18.Short-term crop loans up to ₹3 lakh will receive a subvention of 5%,

effectively reducing the rate for farmers to 4%.

The government has earmarked a sum of ₹20,339 crore for this.

The interest subvention scheme will continue for one year and will be implemented by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural

Development (NABARD) and the Reserve Bank of India.

Farmers unable to repay the short-term crop loans on time will receive an interest subvention of 2%.

The scheme has been running since 2006-07, under which farmers are eligible for interest subvention of 2% for crop loans of up to ₹3 lakh.

Under the scheme, the government will also provide an interest subvention of 2% for small and marginal farmers who would have to borrow at 9% for the post-

harvest storage of their produce for loans up to 6 months.

A 2% subvention will also be provided to banks in the case of farmers affected by natural calamities for the first year on the restructured amount.

Changes in BPSC civil services exam pattern get Bihar Cabinet nod

Instead of two optional papers, it will be now only one optional paper for the main examination of 300 marks.

The total marks for the main examination would be now 1020 marks instead of existing 1150.

there would be no change for the existing pattern of preliminary test of 150 marks.

The total marks for the interview would now be only 120 marks instead of 150.

The total marks of compulsory paper of Hindi would be as usual 100 but it would be mandatory for each examinee to get minimum 30%

marks to clear the examination.

The candidates would be selected 20 times more for the main examination against the total sanctioned posts.

In order to strengthen the functioning and developing infrastructure of panchayati Raj system, the cabinet okayed the loan assistance of

120 million US dollar (around Rs 800 crore ) from world bank in which state share would be 30% of the total amount.

This amount would be spent on the construction of panchayatbhavan, appointment of manpower for panchayats and developing

infrastructure in each panchayats.

Under the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat strengthening abhiyan yojana in the 2016-17, the cabinet okayed a sum of Rs 60.59 crore

The cabinet okayed the proposal of drinking water to each rural households project in the state which is under one of the seven

resolves of the CM.

For the proper implementation of this project, a sum of Rs 1.66 crore would be spent on each panchayat.

Forty percent amount of the total 14th finance commission amount would be spent on this project besides 40% of the state finance

commission. The additional amount would be met by the state plan.

The entire project would be done under the close monitoring by the ward member of the panchayats.

Bihar govt approves Road Development Vision-2020

The Bihar government approved the Road Development Vision-2020for expansion of road infrastructure and connectivity in the state.

Under the Road Development Vision-2020

all state highways would be widened to minimum of two lanes, while all long-distance district roads would have a minimum width of 5.5

metres of its intermediate lane.

The state cabinet approved Rs 426.7 crore for strengthening, widening and developing different components of seven important state roads in Nalanda, Kishanganj, Saharsa, Muzaffarpur and Araria

districts

The funds will be spent on Noorsarai-Silao road, Silao-Bhui-Devariaroad, Nima--Hasanpur road (under Biharsharif road division in

Nalanda district), Murarigachh-Thakurganj road (Kishanganj road division), Saharsa-Agwanpur-Bihra road (Saharsa road division), Narwara-Minapur (Muzaffarpur road division) and Udahaat-Tekni

road (Araria road division).

The cabinet sanctioned Rs 104.32 crore as grants-in-aid for meeting the expenditures of Bihar Administrative Reforms Mission.

It also gave its nod for release of Rs 10.84 crore as grants-in-aid to the Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development for

training to administrative officers.

The cabinet okayed a general administration department's proposal to create a post of civil judge (senior division) to function as the

member- secretary of Bihar State Court Management System Committee.

The state cabinet also approved the creation of 88 posts of cooks in jails for serving quality food to inmates jails would have better medical facilities for prisoners as a proposal has been sanctioned for creation of the posts of Director and Deputy Director of Jail Medical Services.

The state government approved a proposal for grant of Rs 100 crore for repair of roads and bridges after it was damaged due to floods,

cyclone and other natural calamities.

A proposal for sanction of Rs 193.33 crore towards Mid-Day Meal scheme for 2016-17 and release of funds under this head in

proportionate to transfer of funds under this head by the Centre was cleared, the principal secretary said.

The state government also gave its nod to accept BEd degrees from institutions in Jammu and Kashmir for candidates applying for

teaching jobs under the

Bihar District Board Secondary and Higher Secondary Teachers (Recruitment and Service Condition) Amendment Rules, 2017 and Bihar Municipal Bodies Secondary and Higher Secondary Teachers

(Recruitment and Service Condition) Amendment Rules, 2017

Bihar govt approves construction of modern cricket stadium in Nalanda for Rs 633 cr

For construction of a modern cricket stadium of international standards and setting up of 'State Sports

Academy' at Rajgir in Nalanda district of the state.

Both the stadium and the sports academy would be completed by the end of 2019-20 at an estimated cost of

Rs 633 crore, and 90 acres of land have been identified for stadium and academy.

Cabinet nod for Rs 1,955 crore road link project

A highway project worth Rs 1,955 crore for construction of a road link between Sahibganj in Jharkhand to Manihari in Bihar, including

a bridge on the Ganges, received Cabinet clearance

“The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a

new link between Sahibganj bypass in Jharkhand to Manihari bypass in Bihar, including a four-lane bridge on river Ganga.

The total length of the road to be developed is approximately 22 kms.

Bihar cabinet approves creation of two new universities

Bihar cabinet gave its approval for creation of two new universities in the state at Patna and Purnea.

Two new universities are Patliputra University and Purnea University

Many colleges affiliated to BN Mandal University at present, would be brought under the new Purnea University.

Colleges in Patna and Nalanda, presently under Magadh University, would be attached to Patliputra University.

The Bihar government today okayed the seventh pay commission

The pay scale will have "notional" effect from January 1, 2016, but "actual" effect from April 1, 2017, which means that a person's salary structure on January 1, 2016, will be applied to the formula of "basic pay + grade pay x 2.57", but s/he will get the monetary benefits from

April 1 this year.

Gratuity for state government employees will also go up from Rs 10 lakh to 22 lakh.

The increased pay and pension will cast a burden of around Rs 6,500 crore per year on the state exchequer.“

The state government has around 3.65 lakh employees, around 6 lakh pensioners and 3.6 lakh teachers on contract.

Under the seventh pay commission scale, salaries of government employees will range from Rs 18,000-56,900 to

Rs 1,44,200-2,18,200 in two brackets spread across 14 levels as per the category of job and seniority.

The cabinet approved the master plan area for five cities - Ara, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Saharsa, and Biharsharif - and approved proposals to set up two private universities: Sandeep University at Sijaul in Madhubani district and KK University at Biharsharif in

Nalanda district.

The cabinet also approved the "economical housing and slum rehabilitation and redevelopment policy 2017" of the urban development and housing department,

under which the Bihar State Housing Board, urban local bodies or planning authorities will have to reserve for people belonging to the economically weaker sections (EWS)

and low-income group half of the area of their housing projects and private developers will have to reserve 15 per cent of the area.

The cabinet also approved Rs 1.82 crore to set up an investment commissioner's office in Mumbai to woo industrialists to invest in Bihar.

District judge to head Juvenile Justice Board

The state cabinet approved the Bihar Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2017, framed in pursuance of The Juvenile Justice (Care and

Protection of Children) Act, 2015 of the central government.

As per the rules, the five-member Juvenile Justice Board would be headed by district and sessions judge of the respective district. The board looks after criminal cases committed by minors (below the age of 18) and welfare of

children in need of protection.

All members of the board will be social workers who must be graduates in any social welfare stream. Each member will be allowed to serve maximum

two terms of three years each,

Rs 397cr approved for science city project.

The state cabinet allotted Rs 397 crore for the ambitious Dr A P J Abdul KalamScience City project.

The science city, which will come up near Moin-ul-Haq Stadium in Rajendra Nagar(Patna) is expected to be inaugurated in June 2019.

The facility is intended to be completed in all respects, including testing and commissioning of all components, by early 2019.

The science city project was conceptualised in 2012 with the objective of promoting and popularising science among the people as well as demonstrating and preserving

the illustrious history of scientific development in Bihar as well as in Indian subcontinent through visual interactive media.

Canada-based Lord Cultural Resources has already prepared the master plan for the project. The target built-up area for the science city project is 30,000sqm, spread

over 20.48 acres between Premchand Rangshala and Moin-ul-Haq Stadium.

As per the master plan prepared by Lord Cultural Resources, the exhibits in the proposed science city would

be based on six themes - be a scientist, basic science, sustainability, body and mind and space and astronomy.

Bihar medicos to sign bond

Medical students pursuing post graduate (PG) courses at government colleges will have to pay Rs 15 lakh if they quit the course midway.

And those, who acquire PG degree also needed to serve at least three years in the state to avoid paying Rs 25 lakh to the government

Bihar cabinet approves realty rules

The Bihar cabinet on Thursday approved the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Rules, 2017, to pave way for implementation of the central government’s Real Estate (Regulation

and Development) Act, 2016.

According to the rules, any builder constructing an apartment with a minimum of eight flats will need to get registered with the government. Also, the builder cannot take more than 10

per cent of the flat’s cost at the time of booking

The rules would be applicable to residential and commercial buildings and will also cover ongoing projects, completion certificate of which is not available so far.

The important aspect of the law is that a builder can now sell a flat on basis of its carpet area, not super built-up area — the balcony, verandah and service shaft would not be part of the carpet area. In case of any defect within a year of the flat’s sale, the builder has to bear

the cost of repair.

PMModilaidthefoundationstoneofoneofthelongestriverbridgesonRiverGangathatwillconnect

Sahibganj toKatihar districtofBihar.

§ Thisis4-lanebridgeand5.8kmlongwillbebuiltbyNationalHighwaysAuthorityofIndiaatanestimatedcost

ofRs2,266crore.

UnionGovernmenthasdecidedtoreviveits45-year-oldNorthKoel riverirrigationprojectinJharkhand.

TheprojectissituatedonNorthKoel riverwhichisatributaryofSoneriverfinallyjoiningtheriverGanga

WithanobjectivetoprovideirrigationfacilitiestofarmlandspecificallyinDaltonganj inPalamu region&Garhwa districtsof

JharkhandAndAurangabadandGayadistrictsinBihar

ThependingworkonthisprojectwillbecompletedatanestimatedcostofRs1,622crore.

Theprojectwasconceivedinyear1972andtheconstructionworkstartedin1975.

Theministry’sexpertwildlifepanelrecentlydiscussedtheprojectandsoughtareportonitfromtheNationalTigerConservationAuthority(NTCA)beforeclearingitasitinvolvesdiversion of

1,007 hectares of forest land from the Palamau Tiger Reserve anditisestimatedthat344,644treeswouldbefelledfortheproject.

NorthKoel projectenvisagesadam(MandalDam)onNorthKoel nearKutkuvillageofLatehar districtinJharkhand,abarrageonthesameriveraround96

kmdownstreamoftheMandaldamsiteandasystemofdistributariesoriginatingfromthetwomaincanals.

Oncecompleted,theprojectwillgenerate24MWofelectricitytoo.

Swacch Sarveskshan 2017

Gujarat has maximum of 12 cities among the top 50 cleanest, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 11 and Andhra Pradesh with

eight.

Biharsharif-147, Kishanganj-257, Patna-262, Bettiah-270, Hajipur-272, Bhagalpur-275, Sasaram-278, Bodh

Gaya-293, Muzaffarpur-304, Jehanabad-307, Buxar-327, Dehri-334, Purnea-342, Motihari-348, Darbhanga-356,

Aurangabad-357, Gaya-362, Siwan-376, Arrah-390, Danapur-391, Saharsa-396, Begusarai-404, Jamalpur-

414, Munger-415, Chapra-422, Katihar-430, Bagaha-432

Swacch Sarveskshan 2017

SWADESH DARSHAN, 100% funding will be done by the central government for strengthening infrastructure, capacity building of

staff and locals, finding new avenues to connect people with tourism activities - Ministry of Tourism

Ministry of Tourism – PRASAD - Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive

Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana(HRIDAY)scheme - Urban Development Ministry

Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, thirteen thematic circuits have been identified, for development namely:

North-East India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana

Circuit and Heritage Circuit.

Under Ramayana Circuit, 11 destinations spread across 6 states have been proposed. The destinations covered are: Ayodhya, Nandigram, Shringhverpur & Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh); Sitamarhi, Buxar & Darbhanga (Bihar); Jagdalpur

(Chattisgarh); Bhadrachalam (Telangana); Hampi (Karnataka); and Rameshwaram(Tamil Nadu). Expert committee suggested to include Chitrakoot (Madhya

Pradesh), Nashik & Nagpur (Maharashtra) and Mahendragiri (Odisha) in the proposed circuit.

Under Krishna circuit, 12 destinations spread across 5 states have been proposed. The destinations covered are: Dwarka (Gujarat); Nathdwara, Jaipur & Sikar (Rajasthan); Kurukshetra (Haryana),

Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Barsana, Nandgaon & Govardhan (Uttar Pradesh); Puri (Odisha).

PRASAD Scheme was launched in 2014-15 with 12 identified sites namely Ajmer (Rajasthan), Amritsar (Punjab), Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Dwarka (Gujarat), Gaya (Bihar), Kedarnath (Uttarakhand), Kamakhya (Assam), Kanchipuram (Tamil

Nadu), Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Puri (Odisha), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and Vellankani (Tamil Nadu).

During 2015-16, Patna (Bihar) and in 2016-17, 12 more sites were added in the scheme for development namely Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Badrinath

(Uttarakhand), Belur (West Bengal), Deoghar (Jharkhand), Guruvayur (Kerala), Hazratbal and Katra (Jammu & Kashmir), Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh),

Somnath (Gujarat), Srisailam and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Trimbakeshwar(Maharashtra).

HRIDAY SCHEMEDeadline

November, 2018

Outlay of INR 500 Croresthe Scheme is being implemented in 12 identified Cities

namely, Ajmer, Amaravati, Amritsar, Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni and

Warangal.

Keshri Nath Tripathi takes oath as Bihar Governor

West Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi took oath as Bihar Governor as additional charge in Patna .

The Patna High Court Chief Justice Rajendra Menon administered the oath to Tripathi at a function at Raj Bhawan.

The post of Bihar Governor fell vacant after Ram Nath Kovind resigned following the BJP-led NDA’s decision to select him as its candidate for the

post of president.

A first in Bihar: 1000-seat BPO centre started operations in Patna.

InamovethatcouldheraldanITrevolutioninsmallercities,theSoftwareTechnologyParksofIndia(STPI)launched1000seatsinPatna.

Itislikelytocreateroughly1500vacanciesinthecountry'sbusinessprocessoutsourcing(BPO)sector.

aspartofitsIndiaBPOPromotionScheme(IBPS). TheIndiaBPOPromotionScheme(IBPS) ,envisagedunderDigitalIndiaProgramme,seekstoincentivizeestablishmentof48,300seatsinrespectofBPO/ITESoperationsacrossthe

country.

Bihar to generate 2650 MW power by 2018

two new units (2x250 MW) of the Barauni Thermal Power Station (BTPS) and the Kanti Bijli Utpadan Nigam Limited (2x195 MW) commenced

operations

In addition, three units (3x660 MW) of Nabinagar thermal power plant would also commence generation from September 2017, March 2018 and

September 2018, respectively.

The state government was working to improve generation, distribution and transmission. From having just 268 power substations in 2005, their

number would go up to 774 this year and to 792 by 2018.

UndertheDeen Dayal Upadhyay GramJyoti Yojana,whichhasreducedCentralsharefromtheearlier90%

to60%,astatelikeBiharhastobearadditionalfinancialburden.

Bihar eyes investment in renewable energy

Bihar has rolled out a slew of incentives that would be given to promoters as enunciated in its 'Policy for Promotion of Bihar

New and Renewable Energy Sources (PPBNRES), 2017'.

The incentives were announced at a national symposium on renewal energy, christened 'Re-Powering Bihar: Energising Access and

Opportunities‘, which was organized by Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED)

These includes :

Reimbursement of stamp duty and registration costs, 100% reimbursement of land conversion fee in land use

Interest subvention (grant of money from government) to all eligible units on the term loan availed by the unit from a scheduled nationalized bank or financial institution approved

by RBI or SEBI

any project proposal when implemented would get 25% subsidy each from the Centre and the state government on the project cost, with the remaining 50% cost to be borne by the

promoter.

state has fixed generation of 3,433MW of power, including 2,969MW of solar energy, through non-conventional sources by

2022.

Bihar announces mega renewable power policy; to add 3,400 MW in five years

The Bihar government has come up with a new renewable power policy for the state where it looks to set up over 3,400 Megawatt projects based on non-fossil fuel-based resources in the next five

years.

The policy is likely to spur investments to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore in energy projects, according to Centre for Energy and

Environment Development (CEED), a non-profit organization active in Bihar’s energy space.

The state's Cabinet cleared the policy called 'Bihar Policy for Promotion of New and Renewable Sources, 2017' and is likely to

notify the same soon.

Under the policy, the state government is mulling setting up 2,984 MW capacity based on solar energy, 282 MW on biogas and 200 MW

small hydropower plants.

Of the total solar capacity, the state plans to set up 1,000 MW rooftop solar projects and 1,00 MW as mini grid projects

The renewable energy capacity addition of Bihar is in line with central government’s plan to have capacity

of 175 Gigawatt built on alternative sources of energy by 2022.

Of this 175 GW, the government plans to add 100 GW solar power capacity, 60 GW wind, 10 GW from biomass and 5 GW from small hydro projects.

Tata Power DDL to set up two pilot solar microgrids in Bihar

Delhi Distribution (TPDDL) will set up two pilot solar microgrids in Bihar in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, General Electric and Tata Trust.

This project aims to develop a novel solar microgrid model with a decision support tool suitable to our Indian environment and support

universal electrification

The company identified two villages in Bihar — Tayabpur and Behlolpur in Baishali district — after a detailed study.

Theproposalenvisagessettingupoftwo15KWp solarprojectsinTayabpur andBehlolpur villageinthefirstphase

Dataavailableonthepowerministry’sGarv dashboardshowedthatofthetargeted18,452villages3,596villagesremain

unelectrified.

Theleftovervillagesaremostlyintoughterrainssuchasleft-wingextremismaffectedareas,forestorriverine areas,flood-affectedareasandhillyorremoteareas,andmayrequiredistributed

generationmechanismsforelectrification.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar dedicates two road bridges to people of Bihar.

The two bridges are Sonepur-Digha and Ara-Chapra.

The two bridges will go a long way in improving road connectively between south and north Bihar and reduce vehicular traffic pressure on the dilapidated Gandhi Setu, the

reconstruction of which is underway for sometimes.

The distance between various destinations between south and north Bihar too will be reduced drastically by more than 100 km.

The 5.25 km Sonepur-Digha rail-cum-road bridge was cleared by the UPA government in 2006 when Lalu Prasad was the Railway minister, while the 4.35 km four-lane Ara-

Chapra bridge was given green signal by the Chief Minister in 2010.

The Sonepur-Digha bridge was earlier meant for rail project only, but after becoming the railway minister in 2004 Lalu Prasad impressed upon the UPA government to

incorporate road part of the bridge too to smoothen road connectivity between South and North Bihar.

government has decided to honour Bihar’s two great sons, Veer Kunwar Singh and Jai Prakash Narayan, popularly known as JP, by naming the Ara-Chapra bridge after the former ahead of 160th anniversary of celebrations of his participation in the

1857 rebellion against the British rulers.

The Sonepur-Digha bridge has been christened after JP.

Cancer has exploded in Bihar as lakhs of people drink water poisoned with

arsenic

Bihar’s heavy cancer burden is largely due to high levels of arsenic, a known carcinogen, in its groundwater. Pollution standards in India peg

arsenic concentrations above 50 parts per billion as harmful.

This is higher than the permissible limit of 10 parts per billion of arsenic in drinking water set by the United States.

Over the last 15 years, field studies in Bihar have thrown up arsenic concentrations that are far higher – up to 3,880 parts per billion.

MoUsignedforpromotingregionalairconnectivityin Bihar

UnderregionalconnectivityPurnea, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Saharsa and Valmikinagar havebeenchosen

inBihar.

emphasisforpayingspecialattentiononGaya Airport GayaAirportwouldprovideconveniencenotonlyfor

BiharbutalsothosefromnorthernpartofneighbouringJharkhand.

Emphasis on early start of work for expansion of Patna Airport and building up of a new one at Bihta, about 40 km

from the town.

126 acre land has been acquired for new Bihta Airport, he said

Economic Survey Bihar 2016-2017

BIHAR� �ECONOMY� �:� �AN� �OVERVIEW

Central Statistical Organisation has released a new series of GSDP, with 2011-12 as the base year, for estimation of both national and state incomes.

The new GSDP estimates also utilises some fresh data sources. According to these new estimates, the medium term growth rate for GSDP in Bihar was 7.6 percent, compared

to 6.8 percent for the national economy.

The Per Capita Income in Bihar was about 35 percent of the national average in 2015-16, compared to about 33 percent a decade ago. The GSDP of Bihar at constant (2011-

12) prices in 2015-16 was Rs. 3.27 lakh crore and Rs. 4.14 lakh crore at current prices. The Per Capita Income in current prices in 2015-16 is Rs. 36,964.

The sectoral growth rate of manufacturing (17.7 percent), electricity, gas and water Supply (15.2 percent), trade, repair, hotels and

restaurants (14.6 percent) and transport, storage and communications (12.6 percent) were more than 10 percent, indicating that these

sectors are the drivers of growth of Bihar economy.

In 2015-16, the changed shares of GSDP are - primary (19.0 percent), secondary (18.8 percent) and tertiary (62.2 percent). Between 2011-

12 and 2015-16, the share of primary Sector has fallen by 7 percentage points. During the same period, the contribution of tertiary Sector has

jumped by 6 percentage points and touched a high of around 60 percent.

STATE� �FINANCES

The revenue surplus of Bihar has increased from Rs 4820 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 12,507 crore in 2015-16, the highest so far. This has allowed the state

government to increase its capital spending by more than Rs 5800 crore during the year. This has also allowed the State government to limit its Gross Fiscal Deficit to only 2.9 percent of the new estimate of GSDP (2011-12 series), well within the

FRBMA limits.

In 2015-16, the outstanding public debt was Rs. 88,829 crore, implying a Debt: GSDP ratio of 21.5 percent, well below the limit of 25 percent, specified by the

Fourteenth Finance Commission. The ratio of interest payment to revenue receipts was at 9.3 percent in 2011-12, which got reduced to 8.5 percent in 2015-16;

again well below the upper limit of 10 percent, recommended by the Fourteenth Finance Commission.

Thus, both conditions having been satisfied in addition to Bihar being a revenue surplus state for years together, the state government is

eligible for an additional half percent fiscal deficit over and above its FRBMA target of 3 percent during the current fiscal

The revenue receipts of the state increased by Rs 17,706 crore, of which Rs 16,659 crore (94 percent) came from increases in tax

revenues alone. During the five-year period from 2011-12 to 2015-16, the own tax revenue of the state government grew from Rs 12,612

crore to Rs 25,449 crore, implying a high annual growth rate of 19 percent.

The revenue expenditure in 2015-16 increased by Rs 11,046 crore over that in 2014-15, of which social services accounted for Rs 4230

crore (38 percent), economic services for Rs 5251 crore (48 percent), and the general services for Rs. 4564 crore (14 percent).

The state governments concern for social development is amply reflected in the increased allocation for Social sector from Rs. 19,536

crore in 2011-12 to Rs. 38,684 crore in 2015-16

Of the total capital outlay of Rs 23,966 crore in 2015-16, as much as Rs 17.609 crore (73 percent) was spent on

economic services, Rs 2740 crore (11 percent) on social services and rest of Rs 3617 crore (15 percent) on general

services.

The total development expenditure of the state government including capital outlay, stood at Rs 78,077 crore in 2015-16, about 70 percent of the total expenditure, compared to

68 percent in 2014-15.

The state government is committed to maintain a high growth rate in development expenditure, both in revenue

and capital account.

AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED SECTORS

The total cereals production of Bihar is estimated at 140.9 lakh tonnes for its population of around 10 crores.

Presently, Bihar produces rice (68.0 lakh tonnes), wheat (47.4 lakh tonnes), maize (25.2 lakh tonnes), pulses (4.2 lakh tonnes), oilseeds (1.3 lakh tonnes), fibre crops (16.3

lakh tonnes) and sugarcane (119.1 lakh tonnes)

AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED SECTORS

Animal husbandry, along with agriculture, is one of the key sectors which provide massive employment and income opportunities for the

rural people of Bihar. The production of milk has increased 25.1 percent from 66.25 lakh

tonnes in 2011-12 to 82.88 lakh tonnes in 2015-16. The production of egg has also increased from 75.43 crores in

2011-12 to 100.21 crores in 2015-16, implying an increase of 32.9 percent. In 2004-05, the production of fish in Bihar was 2.67 lakh tonnes. The production grew continuously thereafter and reached

the peak level of 5.07 lakh tonnes in 2015-16.

ENTERPRISES SECTOR

The growth of an economy is largely dependent on the growth of its enterprises Sector which includes both secondary (industrial) and tertiary (services) activities.

The overall Bihar economy has grown at 7.6 percent, the secondary sector has grown at 8.4 percent and the tertiary sector has recorded an even higher growth

rate of 10.4 percent.

The industrial sector in Bihar, as elsewhere in India, is very heterogeneous with industrial units ranging from tiny/small to large. There were 17.07 lakh economic enterprises in the state in 2013, after recording an increase of 39.4 percent over

the number in 2005 (12.25 lakh). The agro-based industries in Bihar are dominated by cereal-based industries (rice, wheat and maize). The number of food processing industries in Bihar in 2015-16 was 399, of which 266 (66.7 percent)

were operational

By August, 2016, there were a few additions, resulting in 407 units, of which 278 (68.3 percent) were operational. No less than two thirds of the agro-based industries in Bihar are engaged in processing of cereals. The total employment under the Food Processing

Industry is 48.4 thousand.

There were 19.5 thousand milk cooperative societies in 2015-16, compared to 18.4 thousand Societies a year ago. It implies an annual growth of 6.0 percent. The total milk procurement per day in 2015-16 was 1740 thousand kgs and this amount has recorded a

steady growth of 13.5 percent in the last five years.

The potential for tourism in Bihar is very substantial because of its rich historical heritage. In 2015, there were 28.95 lakh tourists in Bihar, of which 923 thousand were

foreign tourists. Although the number of foreign tourists visiting Bihar has remained nearly same over the years, the trend for domestic tourists is very positive. Between

2011 and 2015, the number of domestic tourists has increased by more than 50 percent.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The development of the infrastructure sector has been a priority area for the state government and it has enhanced public investment in

roads and bridges. The investment in the road sector has increased nearly three folds from Rs 2696 crore in 2007-08 to Rs 7696 crore in 2016-17, indicating an

annual growth rate of more than 10 percent.

In 2015-16, the expenditure on roads constituted 16.4 percent of the expenditure of the state government on economic sectors, 7.7 percent of development expenditure, and 1.5 percent of the GSDP of the state

INFRASTRUCTURE

In 2016, a total of 40 National Highways (NH), measuring 4621 kmswere there in Bihar, a major share (72.4 percent) of these NHS is of

double and multiple lane roads.

The total length of the State Highways (SH) in Bihar in the same year was 4253 kms, of which 67.8 percent was double-lane roads, 13.5

percent intermediate lane roads, and 18.2 percent single lane roads.

There was 11,054 kms of Major District Roads in the state, with a major portion (54 percent) of it being single-lane roads. Out of the total

length of MDR, 5121 . kms have been converted into intermediate or double lane roads

The number of registered motor vehicles in Bihar has been increasing rapidly, at an annual rate of 15.4 percent during the last five years

(2010-15). In this regard, Bihar was the second fastest growing state in India, after West Bengal (24.2 percent).

Bihar has registered a tremendous growth in the telecom sector during the last decade. The number of telephone connections increased

phenomenally from 9.7 lakh (2001) to 748 lakh (2016). Consequently, Bihar witnessed a substantial increase in its tele-density in the recent

years, from 1.15 in 2001 to 54.3 in 2016.

The ultimate irrigation potential in the state is estimated to be 117.54 lakh hectares, including major, medium and minor irrigation schemes.

The created potential of 68.90 lakh hectares is 58.6 percent of the ultimate potential.

The utilized potential of 56.66 lakh hectares, which is 82.2 percent of created potential and 48.2 percent of ultimate potential.

ENERGY SECTOR

There has been significant improvement in power availability in Bihar from 1712 MW in 2011-12 to 3769 MW in 2016-17, registering a growth

about 120 percent in six years. The peak deficit in power has been around 30 percent for several years till 2012-13; by 2015 16, this deficit

was reduced to around 16 percent.

The generation and purchase of power (net of central transmission loss) in Bihar increased from 11,966 MU in 2011-12 to 21,677 MU in 2015-

16. With increase in sales, the revenue collection has increased. The cost coverage has also risen from about 70 percent in 2011-12 to about 91

percent in 2015-16, thus bringing down financial loss from 30 percent to 9 percent.

ENERGY SECTOR

The rural electrification work is being carried out in all 38 districts of the state under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana.

Under electrification of unelectrified villages, a total of 23,757 villages have been electrified against a target of 24,771 unelectrified

villages.

Under intensive electrification of partially electrified villages, 23.415 village have been intensively electrified against a target of 39,767

partially electrified villages

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Between 2004-05 and 2011-12, the poverty ratio in Bihar was reduced by 20.7 percentage points, from 54.4 percent in 2004-05 to 33.7 in 2011-12. It is heartening to note that the reduction in the poverty

ratio in rural areas of Bihar (21.6 percentage point) was higher than in the urban areas (12.5 percentage points).

JEEVIKA is an initiative of the state government to reduce poverty. It has organised 70.98 lakh households into 5.57 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs) till October, 2016. In the same period, 3.03 lakh SHGs have been linked with banks, and they were able to obtain a total loan of

Rs. 21 13 crore

MGNREGS aims at enhancing livelihood security of rural workers by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in

a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

In 2015-16, 99.8 percent of the fund was utilised, which is 25.5 percentage points higher than the utilization figure of the previous

year. The total employment generated was 683.7 lakh person-days in 2015-16, compared to 352.7 lakh person-days in 2014-15. Overall, the

performance of MGNREGS was much better in 2015-16.

The PDS for foodgrains is one of the main vehicles which ensure 'food security' to the people. The total number of PDS dealers is 42,059 in

2016.

The social groups accounting for major shares in PDS outlets are -backward castes (29.3 percent), general castes (19.4 percent), scheduled castes (16.4 percent) and Ex-Army Personnel (10.6

percent).

These four categories together account for three-fourths of the PDS outlets

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

The state government is paying more attention to urban development in the recent years.

In 2015-16, the total expenditure of the state government on urban development and housing was Rs. 3134 crore, compared to only Rs.

1290 crore in 2010-11.

This implies an annual growth rate of 21.9 percent, indicating the state government's deep attention to this Sector in the recent years.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

The state government has been collecting data on municipal finances for 28 largest towns in the state.

In 2015-16, out of a total income of Rs. 683. 10 crore, the revenue grants accounted for Rs. 454.90 crore (66.6 percent).

In the recent past, the self-generated income of the local bodies has grown only at a modest rate of 11.3 percent.

BANKING AND ALLIED SECTORS

In March 2016, of the total of 6661 branches of commercial banks in Bihar, 55 percent were located in rural areas, compared to 60 percent in 2011.

Bihar accounted for only 4.8 percent of all the bank branches in the country, though its share in country's population was about 8.6 percent.

There has been a significant growth of Rs. 26,376 crore (13.9 percent) in the total deposits in Bihar in 2014-15 over the previous year.

Simultaneously, the credit in 2014-15 has also expanded by Rs 10,400 crore, implying a high growth of 16.7 percent. But, it is to be noted that the total bank

credit in Bihar accounts for just about 1 percent of the total bank credit in the country, while Bihar accounts for 8.6 percent of India's population.

As on September 2016, the aggregate deposits of all banks in Bihar were Rs 2,38,384 crore, against a credit of Rs 99.454 crore, resulting in a CD ratio of 41.7 percent, higher than the 36.7 percent in 2011-12.

The priority sector advances constituted 76 percent of the total bank advances in the state.

The share of agriculture in the total advances was 52 percent, about the same as in the previous year. It can be seen that while advances to agriculture dominated the credit in the state, the advances made to the

small and medium scale industries were only 16 percent of the total loans disbursed in 2015-16.

Till March, 2016, bank-linked SHG coverage in rural Bihar was 36.21 lakh households, up from 29.18 lakh a year

before. The average savings of Rs 12,924 per SHG in Bihar was still well below the national average of Rs 17,324.

The total loans disbursed during 2015-16 to the SHGs by banks amounted to Rs 610 crore, which was much higher

than Rs 471 crore disbursed in the previous year

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

The state government has enhanced its development expenditure during the last five years and is utilizing 35 percent of its total

expenditure on social services.

Although, the Per Capita Development Expenditure (PCDE) in Bihar has been low compared to the national average, the PCDE of Bihar has

grown at 16.4 percent, nearly the same rate (17.1 percent) at which it has grown at all-India level.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

The functioning of the public health institutions is improving steadily due to several initiatives taken by the state government.

The average number of patients visiting government hospitals per month was 9317 in 2011, which has increased to 10,232 in 2016,

implying an increase of 10 percent.

This increase is primarily due to better infrastructure facilities, larger manpower, and proper monitoring of the health institutions.

The number of institutional deliveries also grew at an annual rate of 3.4 percent. It is obvious that the significant decrease in Infant

Mortality Rate (IMR) in Bihar in recent years is an outcome of the wider practice of institutional delivery.

The National Rural Drinking Water Supply Programme (NRDWP) aims to remove water Supply and Sanitation problems in rural areas.

In 2015-16, as many as 26.7 thousand handpumps have been installed under this programme

The literacy rate in Bihar increased from 47.0 percent in 2001 to 61.8 percent in 2011, implying an increase of 14.8 percentage pointduring the decade. The total enrolment at elementary level has been

steadily increasing over the five years.

The total enrolment, taking primary and upper primary together, rose to 229.26 lakhs in 2014-15 from 198.14 lakhs in 2010-11, implying

an annual growth rate of 3.9 percent.

The enrolment for SC and ST students during this period has grown at an even higher rate of 5.2 percent and 16.6 percent respectively.

It is appreciable that, at all the levels of education (elementary, Secondary and higher secondary), the dropout rates of girl students

are lower than that for the boys.

To expand the employment opportunities and fulfill the target of 'Aarthik Hal, Yuvaon ko Bal”, one of the

components of Saat Nischay, the state government has launched Kushal Yuva Programme on October 2, 2016.

In order to enhance the scope of skill development, 149 courses have been selected by Bihar Skill Development

Mission (BSDM) and it is being implemented by 15 Departments of the state government.

Saat Nischay (resolves) Scheme Yojana

The Saat Nischay was promised by CM Nitish Kumar on recently held state assembly election.

Total Investment for Nitish’s 7 Nishchay More than 2.75 Lakh CroresInvestment for improving Roads/Drainage Rs. 78,000 Crores

Investment for improving Electricity Rs. 55,600 CroresInvestment for improving Youth Employment Rs. 49,800 Crores

Investment for improving Drinking Water Rs. 47,700 CroresInvestment for constructing Toilets Rs. 28,700 Crores

Investment for improving Higher Education in Bihar Rs. 10, 300 Crores

1. Aarthik Hal, Yuvaonko Bal:

The program Aarthik Hal, Yuvaon ko Bal also known as the Kushal Yuva Programme (KYP). The main motive of the program is to create employment for the youths are

dropped out from school education by teaching skill improvement courses.

In this Aarthik Hal, Yuvaon ko Bal program, bihari youths who are in the age group of 15 to 25 years who cleared the secondary examination 10 and 12 from the state

of Bihar is eligible to develop their skills, by joining courses.

The program Aarthik Hal, Yuvaon ko Bal, contains quality and experienced trainers who teaches youths with the package of life oriented skills, boosting

communication skills by improving the youth’s English knowledge and to teach the basic level of working knowledge in computers. Student Credit Card is one such

Initiative.

Student Credit Card Scheme

The scheme was launched on 2nd October.

To provide education loans of up to 4 Lakh to 12th pass students , free of interest.

Loan Approval Process

The government officials will examine and verify all the details and documents submitted by the students including the admission related details from the respective educational institutions. This will be done within 15 days after

receiving the documents from the students.

In fact recently Bihar Government reduced the stamp duty on applications filed by students for

student credit card from Rs1,000 to Rs100.

The reduction in stamp duty will allow more and more students to apply for the loan under student

credit scheme

After verification, details/documents will be shared with the banks which will then approve or disapprove the loan

within 15 days. The loan approval/disapproval with reason information will be shared by the banks to the applicants

by SMS.

In case of approval, the applicants will be required to visit the bank branch to complete the documentation

formalities. After which the banks will issue credit cards to the students which can be used to pay the fee and

expenses of higher education.

2)Aarakshit Rozgar,Mahilaon Ko Adhikar

Theprogram“Aarakshit Rozgar,Mahilaon Ko Adhikar”isspeciallydesignedtoimprovethewomenempowermentinthestateofBihar.UnderthisprogrameducationwomanfromBiharenjoysthe35%jobreservationin

thestategovernmentjobs.Withthiscommitment,thewomen’seducationratewouldincreaseintheentirestate.

3)Har Ghar Bijli,Lagatar

Biharstateexperiencesthepositiveimprovementandnotablegrowthintheproducingelectricitywithrespecttothestateneeds.Inordertoboosttheelectricitygrowthtothenextleveltheprogram“Har Ghar Bijli,Lagatar”isintroducedandwiththisprogramthestategovernmentofBiharensures

theelectricityconnectiontoeachandeveryhouseholdinBihar

4) Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal

With the whooping investment of Rs. 47,700 crores, Nitish lead Bihar state government introduced this program “Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal” to

provide clean and secured drinking water to every resident in Bihar by connecting all household in Bihar with water pipeline connection.

Under this scheme, it is targeted to remove all the hand pumps by which the people of Bihar depend for their water needs. It is roughly

estimated that by around 1.95 Lakh household in Bihar would be benefited under this “Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal” program.

5) Ghar Tak Pakki Gali – Naaliyan

The program “Ghar Tak Pakki Gali – Naaliyan” is one among the commitments promised by the CM of Bihar Nitish which ensure the good and proper mode of road transportation across the

state of Bihar by connecting its rural areas too.

Under this Scheme, each and every rural villages of Bihar would receive Pucca roads which capable of handling all kinds of weather. And the most highlighting issue in this program “Ghar Tak Pakki Gali – Naaliyan” is the construction of the

Pucca Roads in villages of Bihar would accompanied by pakkadrainage networks.

6) Shauchalay Nirmaan, Ghar Ka Sammaan

The Nitish Government in Bihar introduced the “Shauchalay Nirmaan, Ghar Ka Sammaan” program on 28 of September 2016 along with various schemes. The program “Shauchalay

Nirmaan, Ghar Ka Sammaan” around 1.72 lakh crores toilets are planned to build in household across the state of Bihar in order to ensure the people of Bihar enjoying healthy

and hygienic lifestyle.

7) Avsar Badhe, Aage Padhein

The program “Avsar Badhe, Aage Padhein” is to develop the higher educational infrastructure in the state of Bihar in order to improve its state youth’s higher education.

Under this program, the state government of Bihar planned to establish various educational institutions across the state. Approximately each and every districts in the state of Bihar would receives School, Training institute and other higher educational

institutes like engineering universities, polytechnics and so.