The Government of Bihar has presented a budget amounting to ₹3.17 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2025-2026. This represents an increase of ₹38,169 crore compared to the previous fiscal year. Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, Samrat Choudhary, articulated that this budget embodies the ethos of ‘sabka saath sabka vikas’ (collective effort, inclusive growth) as advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside the state’s commitment to ‘nyay ke saath vikas’ (development with justice).
Bihar Budget 2025-26 Highlights
- Budget Size:
- Total budget outlay: ₹3.17 lakh crore, marking an increase of ₹38,169 crore from the previous year.
- Fiscal deficit estimated at ₹32,718.31 crore (2.98% of GSDP), within FRBM limits.
- Education:
- ₹60,954 crore allocated, the highest sectoral allocation.
- Scholarships for backward and extremely backward class students doubled to ₹2,000 per month.
- Health:
- ₹20,335 crore allocated.
- Plans to establish a dedicated cancer hospital in Begusarai and open over 100 urban healthcare centres.
- Rural Development and Infrastructure:
- ₹16,193 crore allocated for rural development.
- Investments in roads, electricity, water supply, and village infrastructure.
- Construction of eight new airports, including Purnia and Rajgir.
- Women Empowerment:
- Initiatives include “Mahila Haat” in Patna, “Pink Buses” for women with female drivers and conductors, and “Pink Toilets” in every district.
- Establishment of “Kanya Vivah Mandaps” in all panchayats to support marriages of underprivileged girls.
- 33% reservation for women in the State Road Transport Corporation.
- Welfare Schemes:
- ₹13,368 crore allocated for OBCs, EBCs, SCs, STs, and minorities.
- ₹19,648 crore set aside for SC/ST welfare programmes.
- Energy Sector:
- ₹13,483 crore allocated for energy development projects.
- Skill Development and Employment:
- Expansion of employment generation schemes across sectors.
- Skill training programmes for women in tourism and transport industries.
- Fiscal Management:
- Revenue surplus of ₹8,831.18 crore (0.80% of GSDP), to be invested in physical infrastructure like roads and schools.
