Nitish Kumar Announces 35% Reservation for Women in Bihar Government Jobs Ahead of Elections

Patna: In a major pre-election push, the Bihar government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has approved a 35% reservation for women in all government jobs and direct recruitment posts. The decision was taken during a crucial Cabinet meeting held in Patna and is seen as a strategic move to woo women voters ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

The reservation will apply exclusively to women who are original residents of Bihar and will cover all direct recruitment for government services. It does not extend to women from outside the state.

The Cabinet, chaired by CM Nitish Kumar, cleared a total of 43 proposals aimed at employment generation, youth welfare, and agricultural support. One of the landmark decisions was the formation of the Bihar Youth Commission— the first such initiative in the state—designed to address youth-centric issues and provide welfare support.

In a major relief for differently-abled aspirants of civil services, the Cabinet approved financial assistance for those clearing preliminary exams of the BPSC or UPSC. Eligible candidates will receive a grant of ₹50 lakh and a ₹1 lakh stipend to support their preparation for the mains and interview stages.

To counter the impact of below-average rainfall in July, the government also announced a ₹100 crore diesel subsidy scheme for farmers. Under this scheme, farmers will receive ₹750 per acre per irrigation for up to three irrigations—totaling ₹2,250 per acre. The subsidy is calculated based on the cost of 10 litres of diesel at ₹75 per litre and can be availed for up to 8 acres of land.

These wide-ranging announcements come as the ruling NDA seeks to consolidate its voter base across women, youth, and the farming community in the run-up to the state elections.