Bihar Reserves 35% Govt Jobs for Women, Approves Incentives & ₹105 Cr for Jeevika Bank

The Bihar cabinet has approved a proposal granting a 35% reservation in government jobs solely for women from Bihar. This decision alters previous policies that allowed women from other states to benefit from this reservation.

In a major decision that could benefit the women of the state, the Bihar cabinet on Tuesday approved 35 per cent reservation in all the government jobs "only for women hailing from the state (Bihar)".

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Altogether 43 decisions were taken at the cabinet meet. The women from the state has been getting the benefit of 35 per cent of reservation in state government jobs but with today’s decision, only women from Bihar can avail the benefit of 35 per cent of women’s reservation.

"The cabinet has cleared a proposal of General Administration Department (GAD) as per which only women belonging to the state (Bihar) can avail the benefit of 35 per cent of reservation in government jobs," Cabinet Secretariat Department’s Additional Chief Secretary S Siddharth told reporters here in a post cabinet briefing. Women applying for the state government jobs from other states will be treated as general category and they will not get the benefit of 35 per cent women’s reservation, Siddharth said while stating that women from other states used to get the benefit of the reservation earlier but now the facility for them cease to exist.

In another important decision, the cabinet also approved social welfare department’s proposal "Mukhya Mantri Divyangjan Sashaktikaran Yojana ‘Sambal’" as per which the state government would give Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh as incentive amount to the differently abled persons for clearing Preliminary Test (PT) of BPSC, Patna and UPSC, New Delhi, Siddharth said. The differently abled persons hailing from Backward Class, Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and differently abled male applicants will get the benefit of the ‘Sambal’ scheme, he said.

It sanctioned Rs 105 crore as the state government’s "share capital" to "Jeevika Cooperative Bank" for the financial year 2025-26, the ACS said adding that the fund will be given from Bihar Contingency Fund (BCF). Notably, the state cabinet had on May 16, 2025 given its approval for the formation of Bihar State Jeevika Fund Credit Cooperative Federation Ltd, Patna under Bihar Cooperative Society Act 1935. It paved the way for opening of "Jeevika Bank" from which Jeevika Didis can avail loans.

Diesel subsidy for irrigation

It also sanctioned Rs 100 crore as diesel subsidy for carrying out irrigation of crops such as paddy, maize, jute, pulses, oilseeds, seasonal vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, he said adding that the decision has been taken in view of irregular monsoon/drought/deficient rainfall in the financial year 2025-26. The funds will be utilised in the current financial year. It is estimated that 10 litres of diesel will be used for irrigating Kharif crops at the rate of Rs 75 per litre as subsidy to irrigate one acre of farmlands for Kharif crops. Farmers would get Rs 750 per acre as subsidy to irrigate their farm. Similarly, farmers would get Rs 1500 as subsidy for protecting paddy saplings and two irrigation for Jute while farmers will get Rs 2250 as subsidy on every acre of land for carrying out three irrigation for Kharif crops such as paddy, maize, pulses, oilseeds, seasonal vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants.

Corporate Social Responsibility Policy

The cabinet also approved the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy for constant monitoring and effective implementation of CSR Fund, Cabinet’s ACS said and added that CSR Society has also been constituted. Companies give certain amount as CSR fund under Companies Act. The decision has been taken to channelise the funding as how and where to give fund for the purpose. A 24 member committee has been constituted for the purpose which is headed by Chief Secretary while Development Commissioner will be its Vice Chairman.

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Residential School & Road projects

It also approved the setting up of a 720 bed Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Residential School at Kudhni block of Muzaffarpur district at an estimated expenditure of Rs 65.80 crore. It also decided to reconstruction of two 720 bed government SC residential school at Masani and Kolhua in Kaimur district. The reconstruction work would be carried out Building Construction Department at an estimated cost of Rs 131.60 crore (Rs 65.80 cr each). In another important decision relating to road construction department, the cabinet approved the widening and strengthening of several roads in different districts of Samastipur, Madhepura, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Saharsa, Nawada, Bhojpur, East Champaran, Darbhanga, Katihar, RCC bridge in Madhubani.