On February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for 2025-2026. Apart from the tax relaxation, Bihar got special attention when she announced a slew of schemes for the state that is slated to go for polls this year. A new Makhana Board and National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Management emerge as one of the major announcements from the Modi government’s special plan for Bihar. Aside from these, greenfield airports will be built in addition to the development of Patna Airport, and the West Kosi Canal Project in Mithilanchal has been announced. Expansion and modernisation of IIT Patna will be done.
Schemes for Bihar
Now let’s dive into the finner details of the schemes that Bihar has received in this budget. The Jaiprakash Narayan Airport in Patna, Bihar, will be expanded. A greenfield airport will be established in Bihar. Greenfield airport means setting up a new airport by modernizing the already existing infrastructure. Four greenfield airports will be facilitated in Bihar to meet the future needs of the state.
Kosi Canal Project for “Shok of Bihar Region”
Apart from this, a big announcement has also been made regarding the Kosi region of Bihar. Kosi Canal Project will be given financial assistance. This will benefit the farmers cultivating 2.5 lakh hectares of land in the Kosi region. The Kosi belt often suffers from floods. DPR, i.e. its blueprint, was prepared for the Western Kosi Canal Project in 1962. Work on it started in 1971 but has not been completed to date. Since the Modi government has completed many pending projects in its previous tenures; it is expected that the Kosi region will also get same relief. The length of the main canal under this project is 92 kilometres.
Makhana Board to boost Makhana Business
Have you ever eaten Makhana? If you haven’t eaten it yet, try frying it in ghee and salt. Try making kheer with milk and eating it. Another big announcement in budget has been made for the Mithila region of Bihar, which is the establishment of the Makhana Board. This Makhana Board will help farmers at every stage, from production of Makhana to market access. All the farmers and entrepreneurs associated with Makhana production will be organized and formed into FPO, i.e., the ‘Farmer Producer Organization.
The government will ensure that production is better and farmers get fair prices in the market. For this, technical training will be given to Makhana farmers and benefits of government schemes will be extended to them. Makhana is called fox nut in English. 90% of the world’s production takes place in Bihar. It is not grown in fields but in reservoirs like ponds. You will see its plants in the form of leaves floating on the surface of water. It is a potential sector where Bihar could have capitalized its capacity to bring investments, create jobs, and boom the sector.
National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management for Bihar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been talking about Purvodaya, meaning the development of the eastern region of the country. Under this, National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management will be established in Bihar. This will bring unprecedented change in the field of food processing in the entire eastern region. With this, farmers will get better prices for their products. The youth will get opportunities for skill development, entrepreneurship and employment – which will make them self-reliant. Food processing, i.e. making raw foods sustainable, enhancing their quality, and increasing their shelf life. This is a big industry in India.
Expansion and Modernization of IIT Patna
Apart from industry, boost for the Makhana industry, Bihar also received another gift in the field of Education. IIT Patna will be expanded. The Indian Institute of Technology located in Patna, is one of the 23 IITs in the country. In this, everything from campus to hostels will be modernized. There will be new construction. Bihar will also benefit from the announcements made regarding tourism. Well, what matters is how the state government implements these schemes on the ground.
The next 9 months are crucial in the context of Bihar politics. Bihar is a big state politically and socially and its political outcome will definitely have a bearing on the National polity especially in the backdrop that JDU, one of the ruling party in Bihar, is a critical ally in the coalition government at Centre.
Budget 2025 has brought a breath of fresh air for Bihar, which gives hope to the people of the state plagued by the acute problem of migration for decades.
Strikingly, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the budget donn a saree with a ”Madhubani painting”, a powerful symbolism in itself. On his part, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been giving the message of unity in diversity. On the occassion of Yoga Day, he was seen wearing the Gamosa of Assam and on the occassion of Republic Day, he donned a Brahmkamal Topi of Uttarakhand. The Finance Minister is carrying forward the same tradition.
