Bihar Budget At Rs 3.17 Lakh Crore: Record Allocation For Education And Health, Women-Centric Schemes, Purnea Airport In Three Months

The Bihar government, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, tabled a Rs 3.17 lakh crore Budget for the financial year 2025-26 in the State Assembly on Monday (3 March). This is the last budget before the state heads to elections later this year, reported The Hindu.

Presenting the budget, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Samrat Choudhary emphasised that it reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "margdarshan" (guidance) and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s "netritva" (leadership) in shaping Bihar’s developmental roadmap.

The budget is Rs 38,169 crore larger than the previous fiscal year, highlighting the government's commitment to achieving a ‘Samriddh Bihar’ (Prosperous Bihar) in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India).

Education remains a key focus area in this year’s budget, with an allocation of Rs 60,964 crore. Given Bihar’s young demographic profile, the government has prioritised investments in schools and higher education.

The healthcare sector has also received significant attention, with Rs 20,335 crore earmarked for hospitals and medical infrastructure. Additionally, Rs 17,831 crore has been allocated to the Home Department.

The government has proposed the establishment of a ‘Mahila Haat’ (Women’s Marketplace) in Patna to support women entrepreneurs. Furthermore, ‘Pink Toilets’ will be set up in all districts, and ‘Pink Buses’ will be introduced in major cities to provide safer public transport options for women. 

In rural areas, the government plans to construct ‘Kanya Vivah Mandaps’ in every panchayat, offering a dedicated space for families to conduct weddings for their daughters.

Infrastructure development remains a major priority, with the government announcing the construction of greenfield airports in Sultanganj (Bhagalpur district) and Raxaul (East Champaran district). 

Additionally, the long-awaited airport in Purnea is expected to become operational within the next three months. Strengthening Bihar’s healthcare network, a dedicated cancer hospital has been proposed for Begusarai district to improve access to specialised medical care.

In a move to modernise governance, the budget also outlines a transition to a paperless property registration system, aiming to simplify land transactions and enhance transparency.

During his budget speech, Choudhary acknowledged the role of the central government in Bihar’s development and expressed gratitude for the various allocations made in the Union Budget. He highlighted the strong cooperation between the state and central leadership in advancing Bihar’s economic and social progress.