Bihar Cabinet approves major decisions: Land survey deadline extended, 72 teacher holidays, new projects greenlit

The Bihar Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, approved 33 proposals in its recent meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, covering various critical sectors of governance. One of the major decisions made was the extension of the land survey deadline by six months. This extension provides landowners and citizens additional time to complete pending land surveys, file claims, and resolve disputes. Under the new timeline, citizens have 180 days for self-declarations, 60 days for filing claims regarding ownership, and an additional 60 days for the settlement of disputes.

In addition to the extension, the Cabinet has taken steps to facilitate smoother processing of land claims. With these changes, the government aims to address the issues that have slowed down the land survey process, offering relief to many landowners across the state. The updated deadlines are expected to ease the burden on citizens involved in the land survey process, giving them adequate time to comply with the regulations.

The Cabinet also approved a new holiday calendar for government school teachers in Bihar for the year 2025. According to the approved calendar, teachers will be granted 72 holidays, a significant increase from previous years. For major festivals like Dussehra, teachers will now receive five days off, a significant change from the single day granted in the past. Additionally, teachers will have ten days off during the period from Diwali to Chhath, a long-standing demand from educators that has now been addressed. This revision of the holiday calendar was made in response to requests from teachers and is set to be implemented in the upcoming year.

Further measures in the education sector included the creation of 493 new positions for pump operators under the Public Health Engineering Department. These positions are intended to strengthen the state's water management systems, ensuring better water distribution and public health services. Additionally, the Cabinet approved the involvement of Jeevika Didis in providing meal services at Ayurvedic and Homeopathic hospitals, aiming to improve food security and nutrition for patients at these healthcare centers.

The Cabinet also approved significant reforms in the health sector with the adoption of the Bihar Treatment Teacher Service Rules 2024 and the Bihar Nurse Contact Rules 2024. These rules are designed to improve the functioning of healthcare services and streamline the recruitment and management of healthcare workers across the state. These reforms are expected to enhance the delivery of healthcare services, especially in rural areas, by providing clearer guidelines for healthcare professionals.

In higher education, the Cabinet approved the creation of new positions at Jai Prakash Narayan University. This decision aims to improve the administrative and academic capacity of the university, which is a major educational institution in the state. The Cabinet also approved key infrastructure projects, including the construction of roads along the India-Nepal border to improve connectivity and promote regional trade. Additionally, the Cabinet sanctioned the construction of more ministerial housing in Gardanibagh, Patna, to accommodate the growing need for government infrastructure.

Another significant decision was the approval for a super-specialty eye hospital in Kankarbagh, Patna. The hospital will be built on land allocated by the government and will offer affordable eye care, particularly for underprivileged populations in the region. The Cabinet also approved ₹98 crores for tourism development in Saharsa, which will be used to improve local infrastructure and promote tourism-related activities. This investment is expected to support the development of the region’s tourism potential and provide economic opportunities for the local population.

In terms of financial management, the Cabinet gave its approval for changes to the Bihar Financial Amendment Rules 2024, aimed at improving the state's financial operations and ensuring better management of public funds. Additionally, the Information and Public Relations Department was authorized to invite tenders for the selection of public relations and social media agencies, while the construction of a new district jail in Arwal was approved, with an allocation of over ₹38 crores for the project.