Bihar: Nitish Kumar Announces Rs 1000 For Unemployed Youths Ahead of Polls

Updated: Thursday, September 18, 2025, 10:29 [IST]

In a major pre-election announcement, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar declared on Thursday that the state government will provide financial assistance of ₹1,000 per month to unemployed graduates for up to two years.

The initiative, part of the expanded Chief Minister's Resolves Self-Help Allowance Scheme, aims to support youth in the 20-25 age group who are actively seeking employment but are not enrolled in any educational institution or engaged in self-employment.

AI Summary

AI-generated summary, reviewed by editors

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a scheme providing ₹1,000 monthly for up to two years to unemployed graduates aged 20-25, part of the Chief Minister's Resolves Self-Help Allowance Scheme, as the state aims to provide employment to one crore youth in the next five years amid improving unemployment rates.

Bihar Nitish Kumar Announces Rs 1000 For Unemployed Youths Ahead of Polls

Key Highlights of the Scheme:

Eligible graduates in arts, science, and commerce will receive ₹1,000/month for a maximum of two years.
Beneficiaries must be unemployed and not pursuing further studies.
The scheme is part of the state's Seven Resolves program focused on youth empowerment.

In his statement, CM Kumar emphasized the government's long-standing commitment to youth employment since taking office in 2005. "A target has been set to provide government jobs and employment to one crore youth in the next five years," he said, adding that skill development training is being ramped up to meet this goal.

Unemployment Trends: Despite unemployment being a key electoral issue, recent data shows improvement. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey cited in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje, Bihar's unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and above dropped to 3% in 2023-24 from 7% in 2017-18. This compares favourably to the national average, which fell to 3.2% from 6% over the same period.

Political Context: The announcement comes as Bihar gears up for assembly elections later this year. With job creation and youth welfare expected to dominate the campaign narrative, the financial aid scheme could play a pivotal role in shaping voter sentiment.

The government hopes the allowance will help young graduates prepare for competitive exams and acquire skills that lead to sustainable employment, ultimately contributing to the state's development.