Bihar Cabinet Approves Internship Scheme With Monthly Stipend For Youth Ahead Of Assembly Polls

With Assembly elections on the horizon, the  National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar on Tuesday (1 July) approved a series of welfare and infrastructure schemes across youth, cultural, religious, and health sectors.

In a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the government launched the “Mukhya Mantri Pratigya Yojana”, an internship programme for youth aged 18–28, who have completed skill development training or possess educational qualifications ranging from class 12 to postgraduate degrees.

Beneficiaries will receive Rs 4,000–6,000 per month, depending on qualifications.

Additional support of Rs 2,000–5,000 will be provided to those interning outside their district or state.

The scheme, targeting 1 lakh youth over five years, has a budget of Rs 685.76 crore.

As per a report by The Indian Express , the state cabinet also cleared the “Mukhya Mantri Kalakar Pension Yojana”, offering a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to artists aged over 50 with a decade of experience in various art forms and an annual income below Rs 1.2 lakh.

Additionally, the “Guru-Shishya Parampara Yojana” was launched to promote endangered traditional arts through two-year training programmes.

In religious tourism, the government allocated Rs 882.87 crore for the development of Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi and handed over 40 acres for Simaria Ghat’s development in Begusarai.

Key health decisions included extending the “Mukhya Mantri Chikitsa Sahayta Kosh” to elected representatives and allocating land for a new medical college in Araria.