Patna, 29 January: The Bihar government has approved an increase in the scholarship amount for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students studying from class one to ten in government schools that are permanently recognised and establishment-approved. A total budget sanction of Rs 519.64 crore has been granted for this purpose.
The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday. The cabinet approved 31 proposals in total. As per the new rates, SC and ST students from classes one to four will receive Rs 1,200, those in classes five to six will get Rs 2,400, and students from classes seven to ten will be granted Rs 3,600 as scholarship amount.
Additionally, hostel residents from classes one to ten will now receive an annual amount of Rs 6,000. The cabinet also approved increasing the budget for establishing a music college in Dumraon, Buxar district, named after Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, from Rs 14.52 crore to Rs 87.81 crore.
Further, the newly formed Higher Education Department received approval to create 161 posts for the implementation of the ‘Saat Nishchay-3’ (Seven Resolves – 3) programme. The cabinet also sanctioned the recruitment of retired Indian Army personnel and retired Central Armed Police Force members on a contract basis as Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) in 17,000 posts for the financial year 2026-27.
Moreover, Rs 5.81 crore has been approved for restarting the toy train and other activities at the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park in Patna. In line with the ‘Saat Nishchay-3’ objectives, the cabinet approved preparing detailed project reports for the potential establishment of sugar mills in the state and engaged the National Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation Limited for various services, including rate approvals.
The cabinet also sanctioned the creation of 99 new posts in the newly formed Civil Aviation Department and the transfer of 176 existing posts to the department from the Aircraft Organisation Directorate and Aviation Training Directorate.
–
Reported by MNP/ASH for Patrika English