Intended to reduce carbon emissions, the Bihar cabinet on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) gave its nod to the draft “Bihar Green Hydrogen Policy, 2026” to promote renewable energy and reduce dependence on imports of natural gas.

Besides, the move will also attract private investment in the field of green hydrogen, and generating employment opportunities in the state, Cabinet Secretariat Department’s Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Arvind Kumar Chaudhary told reporters here in a post-Cabinet briefing held at IPRD conference room in Patna.

Stating that similar policies have already been introduced in several other States, Mr. Chuadhary said the central government launched the “National Green Hydrogen Mission” in 2023. Its objective is to achieve the goal of energy independence by 2047 by meeting 50 per cent of India’s electricity demand through renewable energy.

This policy will promote production, consumption, market creation, electrolyser manufacturing, and other components across the value chain of green hydrogen and its derivatives, Mr. Chaudhary said while asserting that the policy, basically, is aimed at “decarbonization” and achieving the goal of net zero. 

A target has been set to produce 0.1 million metric tonnes, or 1,00,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year by 2031, he added.

The vision is to establish 1 GW of electrolyser capacity and achieve approximately 2.5 GW of renewable energy capacity through green hydrogen and its derivative projects, he said.

The policy also aims to attract investments of approximately ₹16,000 crore and generate around 12,000 direct and indirect jobs, ACS said and added that Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency (BREDA) has been designated as the nodal agency for implementing the policy.

Reduction of VAT rate on ATF 

The Cabinet also decided to reduce the VAT rate on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) from one per cent to zero percent at RCS-concessional airports in the State under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).

The VAT rate on ATF used as fuel in aircraft was earlier reduced from 29% to a uniform rate of 4% in June 2025, the press note said.

This decision is expected to increase the number of regional flights and have a positive impact on the State’s economy

Creation of posts for Universities 

The Cabinet also approved the creation of 34 posts of officers and employees for administrative purposes of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science University, Bhagalpur to enable the effective monitoring and smooth functioning of the University. Similarly, it also approved the creation of 34 posts of officers and employees for administrative functioning of Shaheed Jubba Sahni University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Muzaffarpur.

It also approved the proposal for the contractual engagement of a total of 35 posts across various categories for the smooth functioning of the Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum-cum-Memorial Stupa, Vaishali, as well as the Directorate of Museums and Government Museums, for a period of 11 months or until regular appointments are made, whichever is earlier. 

Chief Minister Hemophilia Scheme

The Bihar Cabinet also decided to implement the “Mukhya Mantri Hemophilia Yojana [Chief Minister Hemophilia Scheme]” under the Mukhya Mantri Chikitsa Sahayta Kosh (Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance Fund) to provide better treatment for patients suffering from hemophilia in the State.

Mr. Chaudhary, ACS, said that there are 255 patients of Hemophilia across the State. The one vial of drug Emicizumab, used in the treatment, costs ₹39,723 and 78 vials are required to be administered to the patient if his body weight is 30 kg. 

Under this scheme, the drug Emicizumab will be used with the objective of providing better and quality healthcare facilities to hemophilia patients. Its use will help reduce uncontrolled bleeding and the complications associated with it among patients, the press note said.

Nod for water cannons 

The Cabinet also gave administrative approval for the procurement of 30 Water Cannons at a rate of ₹88 lakh per unit, amounting to a total cost of ₹26.40 crore and 86 new Vajra vehicles at a rate of ₹42 lakh per unit, amounting to a total cost of ₹36.12 crore for the purpose of controlling and strengthening law and order in the State.

Thus, a total cost of ₹62.52 crore will be spent on the procurement of the two items of water cannons and Vajra vehicles. 

The procurement of the proposed vehicles will assist in dealing with law-and-order situations, crowd control, riots, and other emergency situations arising during festivals, fairs, election rallies, and the arrival or movement of distinguished and eminent dignitaries in the state.

A total of 30 decisions were taken at today’s Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. 

Published – October 01, 2026 01:34 am IST

The Bihar cabinet on Wednesday (July 15, 2026) authorised the Gram Panchayats to impose and collect taxes that would enable panchayats to develop their own financial resources, thus reducing their dependence on the State government.

The cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, gave its nod to the draft “Gram Panchayat Taxes, Rates and Fees Rules, 2026”, Cabinet Secretariat Department’s Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Arvind Kumar Chaudhary told reporters in Patna in a post-cabinet briefing.

No rules have yet been framed in light of the provisions of the Bihar Panchayat Raj Act, 2006 and therefore, it became necessary to identify taxes and fees that may be levied by Panchayats, prescribe their maximum limits, and establish a procedure for their imposition, determination of rates, and collection so that Panchayats can collect these taxes and fees effectively.

It was among 30 decisions that were taken at Wednesday’s (July 15, 2026) cabinet meeting.

As per the draft Rules, the Gram Panchayats can now impose holding tax on occupants of holdings within the Gram Panchayat area, fees on professions, trades, advertisements, hoardings and industries operating within the panchayat area, besides user charges for services provided by the Panchayat.

The move is expected to result in a significant increase in the Gram Panchayats’ Own Source Revenue (OSR), thereby strengthening their financial self-reliance.

In another important decision, the State cabinet also gave its nod to the Panchayati Raj Department’s another proposal for the constitution/delimitation of Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad constituencies under the different provisions of the Bihar Panchayat Raj Act, 2006 (as amended) on the basis of the 2011 Census population figures, Mr. Chaudhary said.

He added that the decision has been taken with the objective of strengthening local self-governance, ensuring the effective implementation of development schemes, providing balanced representation in proportion to the population, and facilitating easier access to public services.

The constitution/delimitation of Gram Panchayat areas is expected to enhance administrative efficiency, strengthen local representation, and promote regional balance in the development of Gram Panchayat areas, he added.

In another decision, the cabinet also gave its administrative approval for three water supply projects worth ₹596.43 crore and a Sewerage Network and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) worth ₹232.90 crore at Hajipur under centrally sponsored Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT 2.0), ACS said adding that the STP at Hajipur will provide sewerage network connectivity to 1,049 households across 8 wards in the town.

The three water supply projects under AMRUT 2.0 included— ₹170.86 crore for Khagaria, ₹197.12 crore for Sitamarhi and ₹228.45 crore for Samastipur.

These projects are important in the direction of providing clean, safe, and regular drinking water to city residents along with strengthening urban infrastructure.

It also approved “The Bihar Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026”. It will enable greater participation by bidders in the e-auction of stone mining blocks across the state, thereby helping to increase government revenue.

It also approved the extension of the implementation of selected schemes, through the Integrated Tharuhat Development Agency, West Champaran, Bettiah, from the financial year 2025-26 to 2030-31. It also approved expenditure of the budgeted funds allocated for these schemes, ACS said.

The implementation of the proposed schemes under the Tharuhat Development Area will promote the economic development of Scheduled Tribes (including the Tharu tribe) and contribute to the development of basic infrastructure in the Tharuhat region, Mr. Chaudhary said.

The cabinet also approved the proposal to increase the monthly honorarium of ex-servicemen-cum-warders appointed on a contractual basis in the prisons of the state of Bihar from ₹19,800 to ₹30,000, Mr. Chaudhary said.

It also approved the constitution of “Bihar State Ropeways Company Ltd” to provide easy, safe, secure, and modern transportation facilities to undertake religious tourism and visit other important spots of the State. This company will build a ropeway at other religious tourist sites of the State.

Published – July 16, 2026 08:38 am IST

Patna:

A day after the expansion of his cabinet, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday allocated portfolios to the ministers of the NDA government.

While Nitish Kumar retained the Home and General Administration departments, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has been given Finance and Commercial department portfolios.

Another Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha, who is also from the BJP, has been given the Road Construction, Mines and Geology and Art, Culture & Youth departments, a notification issued by the Cabinet Secretariat department said on Saturday.

Nitish Kumar on Friday expanded his cabinet, which is less than two months old, by inducting 21 new ministers. With the induction of 21 new ministers, the strength of the Nitish Kumar ministry rose to 30, just six short of the constitutional limit of 36 for the state.

According to the notification, Nitish Kumar has also retained key departments like cabinet secretariat, election, vigilance, general administration and “all other portfolios not allocated to anyone else”.

While BJP’s Prem Kumar has been allocated Cooperative and Environment, Forest and Climate Change departments.

Nitish’s trusted lieutenant Bijendra Prasad Yadav has been allocated Energy and Planning & Development departments. Senior JD (U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary has been given charge of the Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs departments. JD(U)’s Shrawan Kumar has been given the responsibility of the Rural Development department.

Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Santosh Kumar Suman, has been given Information Technology, Minor Water Resources and Disaster Management departments. Independent MLA Sumit Kumar Singh has been given the portfolio of the Science and Technology department.

Senior BJP leader Renu Devi has been given the Animal & Fisheries Resources department.

Portfolios of other ministers are: Mangal Pandey (Health and Agriculture), Neeraj Kumar Singh (Public Health Engineering Department), Ashok Choudhary (Rural Works), Lesi Singh (Food and Consumer Protection), Madan Sahni (Social Welfare), Nitish Mishra (Industry and Tourism), Nitin Nabin (Urban Development & Housing and Law).

Dilip Kuma Jaiswal (Revenue and Land Reforms), Maheshwar Hazari (Information & Public Relations department), Sheila Kumari (Transport), Sunil Kumar (Education), Janak Ram (SC & ST Welfare), Hari Sahni (BC & EBC Welfare), Jayant Raj (Building Construction). PTI PKD RG

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Patna:

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday expanded his cabinet, which is less than two months old, by inducting 21 ministers.

The new inductees, including senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Renu Devi, were administered the oath of office by Governor Rajendra Arlekar at a ceremony in the Raj Bhavan.

Other notable persons who were sworn in include Mangal Pandey and Neeraj Kumar Singh ‘Bablu’, both former ministers, belonging to BJP.

Besides, Md Zama Khan, who became the lone Muslim in the cabinet, and the chief minister’s confidant Ashok Chaudhary, who held cabinet berths earlier, were back as ministers.

The fresh induction raises to 30 the total strength of the cabinet formed after the return of Kumar, who heads the JD(U), to the BJP-led NDA less than two months ago.

Chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by leaders of the BJP, which has returned to power, reverberated through the Raj Bhavan during the ceremony.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)