🅰Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2025-2026 on Saturday with a big bag of surprises for poll-bound Bihar that includes setting up of a Makahana board, a greenfield airport as well as financial support for Western Koshi Canal Project in the Mithilanchal region of the state.
ꦯIn the Union Budget 2025-26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also announced the establishment of a National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management in Bihar and the expansion of hostel and other infrastructure capacity at IIT Patna.
🉐Other announcements for Bihar include the capacity expansion of Patna airport and development of a brownfield airport at Bihta.
💦During the last budget in July 2024, the Centre announced several big-ticket measures for Bihar, proposing a total outlay of over Rs 60,000 crore for various projects, including funding for three expressways projects, a power plant, heritage corridors and new airports and sports infrastructure.
🔥The assembly election is scheduled to be held in the state later this year.
Union Budget 2025: Announcements For Bihar
1. Makhana Board:🅘 While announcing the setting up of a makhana board in the state, Sitharaman said, "There is a special opportunity for the people of Bihar. A makhana board will be established in the state to improve production, processing, value addition, and marketing of makhana."
🌠People engaged in these activities will be organised into FPOs (Farmer Producer Organization), which will provide handholding and training support to makhana farmers.
🎶These FPOs will also work to ensure they receive the benefits of all relevant government schemes, she added.
2. National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management:𓃲 Moreover, in line with the "government's commitment towards 'Poorvodaya', we will establish a National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management in Bihar", said Sitharaman.
🔴Under the Poorvodaya scheme, the government is formulating an all-round development of the eastern region states covering Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
🔴The institute will provide a strong fillip to food processing activities in the entire eastern region. This will result in enhanced income for the farmers through value addition to their produce and skilling, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for the youth.
3. Airports:꧅ Sitharaman announced that greenfield airports will be facilitated in Bihar to meet the future needs of the state. These will be in addition to the expansion of the capacity of Patna airport and a brownfield airport at Bihta, she added.
4. Western Koshi Canal Project:🗹 The finance minister also announced support for the Western Koshi Canal Project in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar. "Financial support will be provided for the Western Koshi Canal ERM Project benefitting a large number of farmers cultivating over 50,000 hectares of land in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar," she said.
5. Financial Help To IIT Patna:🧸 Besides, she also announced the expansion of the hostel and another infrastructure capacity at IIT Patna. Over the next five years, 10,000 fellowships will be offered for technology research at IITs and IISc. Additionally, the government will develop more infrastructure in the five IITs established after 2014, enabling the education of 6,500 additional students.
6. Tourism:𒊎 The FM also stated that the government would place special emphasis on destinations linked to the life and times of Lord Buddha. Bihar, home to several important sites related to Lord Buddha, including Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, and other heritage locations, will be a key focus.
7. Bharatiya Bhasha Pushtak scheme:🅰 This initiative will provide Indian language books in digital format for schools and higher education.
8. National Centres Of Excellence:💮 Bihar, along with four other states, will receive national centres of excellence to foster skill development, global expertise, and partnerships. Additionally, 50,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs will be established in government schools across the country to enhance students' scientific temperament, with Bihar expected to be a major beneficiary of this initiative.
Reactions
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ꧙on Saturday lauded the Union Budget, stating that it would help in accelerating the development of the state.
🉐"The budget is progressive (pragatisheel) and futuristic (bhavishyonmukhi). It will help accelerate the state's growth... I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman," he said in a statement.
🔴Kumar said the Makhana board would boost the cultivation of foxnuts, for which Bihar was known across the world.
ಌ"Greenfield airports would address the state's future needs. These will improve air connectivity in the state which shall now look forward to having a greater number of international flights," he said.
♛Union Minister for Food Processing Industry and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan hailed the budgetary announcements.
ꦦ"Establishment of the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management in Bihar will strengthen food processing activities in the entire eastern region and increase the income of farmers by improving the quality of their produce," Paswan posted on X.
🐽JD (U) working president Sanjay Jha hailed the announcement of setting up of a Makhana Board in Bihar, saying it will unlock new opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs.
🔴Stating that it will turn out to be a gamechanger for the region's agricultural economy, Jha said in a post on X, "The initiative will enhance production, processing, value addition, and marketing, driving economic growth in Mithila and Bihar."
