Bihar

NDA to contest 2025 Bihar polls under Nitish, PM Modi: Deputy CM Choudhary

The NDA will contest the assembly polls in Bihar next year under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary said on Sunday. "There is no confusion," he said during a press conference at the BJP headquarters when asked to comment on speculation that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could do a rethink on projecting Kumar as its leader in the polls. He was responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent interview to a news channel in which he was asked if the NDA could go to the polls in Bihar without declaring a chief ministerial candidate, like it recently did with great success in Maharashtra. Shah, a former BJP president who is still regarded as the party's principal strategist, had replied after a pause, "We will sit together and decide. We will let you know after we have made a decision." The cryptic response had led to furious speculation that the BJP could insist on not ...

Bihar receives record Rs 1.81 trillion investment proposals, says minister

"Ab humara samay hai" - The time for Bihar has come, said state's Industries and Tourism Minister Nitish Mishra after it received a record Rs 1.81 lakh crore worth of investment proposals in its only second investor meet. Mishra said the focus will now shift to providing all the promised support to the investors so that the units could start quickly. "I am very happy personally and very satisfied, and I am thankful to my team in the industry department who has been for the last few months working on their toes, holding a series of events in different states, interacting with the business community, trying to pitch Bihar and the advantage Bihar," he said. The state signed with an array of companies' memorandum of understanding (MoUs), committing Rs 1.81 lakh crore of investment at the second edition of the Bihar Business Connect investor summit last week. "To be very honest, even we were not expecting this kind of figure," he said. "From now on it will be the emergence of a new ...

Bengal, Bihar most impacted by arsenic contamination: Centre to NGT

West Bengal and Bihar are impacted the most by arsenic contamination of groundwater, the Centre has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The tribunal is hearing the issue of rice being susceptible to arsenic contamination because it absorbs more of the toxic semi-metallic element from water and soil. Earlier, it sought a reply from the Centre on it. In an order dated December 16, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel noted that the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had filed its reply after seeking inputs from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). "States of West Bengal and Bihar are reported to be most affected by arsenic contamination of groundwater irrigation by contaminated groundwater is the major route for arsenic entry into agricultural soil which ultimately leads to its entry into the food chain," the Centre said in its reply. There can be a "significant build-up" of the toxic element in r

NDA leaders back CM Nitish Kumar as face for upcoming Bihar elections

The ruling NDA in Bihar on Friday dismissed speculations that the coalition could do a rethink on projecting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as its leader in the assembly polls due next year. Speaking to the media after a meeting held here to bring about better coordination at the grassroots level, state presidents of parties like the BJP, Kumar's JD(U) and Union minister Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) also rubbished suggestions triggered by Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent statement. Dilip Jaiswal, state minister and Bihar BJP chief said, "We should understand that Amit Shah was trying to underscore that he was a karyakarta' (worker) of a party in which big decisions are taken by the parliamentary board". "But, the leadership role of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had been a given for long. There is no question of going back on that, asserted Jaiswal. He was responding to Shah's recent interview to a news channel in which he was asked whether the NDA could go to po

Amit Shah applauds SSB, credits for securing borders, combating Naxalism

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday lauded the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) for its pivotal role in securing the country's borders with friendly nations such as Nepal and Bhutan, combating Naxalism in Bihar and Jharkhand, and curbing illegal activities. Addressing the 61st Raising Day celebrations of the SSB in Siliguri, Shah said, "The Sashastra Seema Bal has played a key role in securing our borders with friendly nations such as Nepal and Bhutan. Its alertness and presence have ensured a sense of security in the Siliguri Corridor and the Eastern region." Highlighting the SSB's role in tackling left-wing extremism, Shah noted, "The SSB has played an important role in ending the menace of Naxalism in Bihar and Jharkhand. Their proactive approach, in coordination with the CRPF and local police forces, has significantly weakened Naxal activities in Chhattisgarh, making the region Naxal-free after almost four decades." Shah commended the SSB for its unique initiatives to foster cultur

Bihar attracts investment proposals of Rs 1.8 trn at global investors' meet

The Bihar government on Friday said it has attracted record investment proposals of nearly Rs 1.81 lakh crore across different sectors such as renewable energy, food processing and manufacturing from an array of corporates, including the Adani Group, Sun Petrochemicals, and others. At the end of the two-day global investors' summit Bihar Business Connect 2024, Industries Secretary Bandana Preyashi said the Bihar government has signed MoUs for setting up 423 units with an investment of Rs 1,80,899 crore. "We are overwhelmed with the response from corporates. It is beyond our expectations. We have received investment proposals of over Rs 1.8 lakh crore," she told reporters here. Sun Petrochemicals and Adani Group were among an array of industrial houses that lined up a record Rs 1.8 lakh crore investments across sectors in Bihar, more than triple of Rs 50,300 crore the state received at its maiden investor meet last year. Preyashi said Sun Petrochemicals will invest Rs 36,700 crore i

Haldiram Snack to invest Rs 300 cr in Bihar, MoU signed to set up plant

Haldiram Snack, a leading player in the packaged food industry, will invest Rs 300 crore in Bihar to set up a manufacturing unit, said a company official here on Friday. The company, which manufactures sweets, namkeen, bhujia , snacks and other food items, has signed an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the Bihar government to make an investment of Rs 300 crore, said its Vice President Sanjay Singhania. "We are setting up a manufacturing plant for sweets, namkeens and snacks in Bihar. We will be investing Rs 300 crore," Haldiram Snacks Pvt Ltd Vice President Sanjay Singhania told PTI on the sidelines of Bihar Business Connect 2024. The Agarwal family-promoted company has acquired a 12-acre land at Sikanderpur in Bihta to set up this plant. "The plant will be operational by mid-2027," he added. The state government is organizing a global investors summit -- Bihar Business Connect 2024 -- to attract investments. The second edition being held here has seen the signing of MoUs

Ashoka Buildcon to invest Rs 9,000 cr in green hydrogen plant in Bihar

Construction engineering company Ashoka Buildcon plans to invest Rs 9,000 crore in setting up a green hydrogen plant in Bihar, its COO-Renewable Energy Mayank Sharma said Friday. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government, committing to investing in the plant, during the Bihar Business Connect 2024. The Maharashtra-based firm is in highway construction, power distribution and solar projects. Sharma said the company will set up a 1,250 MW solar project and use the clean electricity to produce green hydrogen by splitting water. "The first phase of the plant is being planned at Begusarai (in Bihar)," he said. Green hydrogen is the cleanest known source of energy, which produces just water from being burnt. Sharma said the first phase of the project will take 1.5-2 years to commission from the date of receiving all clearances. The second phase will follow thereafter. According to the latest presentation on the company website, Ashoka Buildcon had an

NHPC to invest Rs 5,500 cr in setting up 1,000 MW solar project in Bihar

NHPC Ltd, India's largest hydropower company, will invest Rs 5,500 crore in setting up a 1,000 megawatt solar power project in Bihar, its chairman and managing director Raj Kumar Chaudhary said Friday. The firm signed an MoU with the state government for the investment at the Bihar Business Connect 2024 investor summit here. "We have proposed to invest Rs 5,500 crore in setting up a 1,000 MW solar power project," he said. The project could be set up in 1.5-2 years from the date of land acquisition. "Land is crucial for solar projects. And we would urge the state government to facilitate land acquisition so that we could do the project on time," he said. The company has almost 7 gigawatts of operational hydropower plants and 9.3 gigawatts of capacity is under construction, according to its website. Chaudhary said NHPC is also proposing to set up a small solar plant, electricity from which would be used to make green hydrogen. "The green hydrogen produced will be used to power pas

Airtel, CtrlS, Holoware to invest in Bihar under new IT policy, says govt

Bharti Airtel, data centre company CtrlS, and personal computer maker Holoware have submitted their proposals for investments in Bihar under the state's new IT Policy, 2024, senior government officials said on Thursday. Speaking at the Bihar Business Connect 2024 here, IT Secretary Abhay Kumar said that the incentives under the state's IT Policy 2024 are the best compared to the policies of any other state. He said the state has received tremendous response from investors. "Airtel and Ctrls are in a very advance stage. They have already taken stage 1 clearance. They are submitting financial proposals and very soon you will see their actual investment happening," Kumar said. He said Chennai-based Holoware is also investing in the state for manufacturing of IT hardwares. "They (Holoware) are putting up their factory for laptop PCs. One of their proposals of Rs 30 crore is already cleared, and in time to come they are supposed to make an investment of Rs 300 crore," Kumar said. He .

NTPC plans to set up nuclear power project in Bihar, says CMD Gurdeep Singh

Power giant NTPC has plans to set up a nuclear project in Bihar, a move which will increase its non fossil energy portfolio, the company's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Gurdeep Singh said on Thursday. NTPC has also requested the state government for a land parcel at a suitable location to take forward its nuclear plans, he said addressing a session at the 'Bihar Business Connect 2024' summit here. "Looking at the future of the energy sector, nuclear (energy) is expected to become extremely important for the energy sector, 20-30 years down the line. I want to share that NTPC is now entering the nuclear energy space," Singh said. Without sharing any further details, he said NTPC will conduct a study before taking ahead the plans to set up the nuclear project in the state. On September 11, the Indian government gave its approval to the Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd (ASHVINI), a joint venture of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd NPCIL (51 per cent) and NTPC (49 per cent) to

IOC to invest over Rs 21,000 cr in Bihar refinery expansion, gas projects

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) -- the nation's top oil firm -- will invest over Rs 21,000 crore to expand the Barauni refinery in Bihar as well as in setting up a city gas distribution network across the state, a senior executive said on Thursday. IOC is expanding its Barauni refinery to 9 million tonnes per annum from current 6 million tonnes together with a petrochemical plant at a cost of about Rs 16,000 crore and invest another Rs 5,600 crore in setting up network to retail CNG to automobiles and piped cooking gas to households and industries in 27 cities of Bihar, company Executive Director Suman Kumar said while speaking at the Bihar Business Connect 2024 investor summit here. "IOC is the oldest investor in Bihar, setting up the Barauni refinery in 1964. The initial capacity was 3 million tonnes per annum which was later expanded to 6 million tonnes. Now we are expanding the capacity from 6 million tonnes to 9 million tonnes per annum. Alongside, a 200,000 tonnes polypropylene is

Nitish to lead NDA in 2025 Bihar Assembly polls: BJP's state chief

Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal on Wednesday asserted that the NDA will contest the 2025 assembly polls in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He also rejected speculations triggered by a recent remark of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in response to a query about Kumar, who heads the JD(U). In an interview with a private news channel, Shah, who is a former BJP president, had evaded a direct reply when he was asked whether the NDA would adopt in Bihar a strategy similar to that in Maharashtra where it went to polls without declaring a chief ministerial candidate and got a landslide victory. Shah, who is widely regarded as the second-most powerful person in the BJP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had replied after a pause, "We will sit together and decide on the issue. Once we take a decision, we will let you know." The equivocal reply has led to speculations in political circles here about the fate of Kumar, who is in his 70s, has been at the helm fo

Bihar to organise investor summit for 2nd time to boost industrial growth

After an impressive maiden show, Bihar will on December 19-20 host the second edition of Bihar Business Connect - the global investor summit that looks at boosting industrial and entrepreneurial growth in the state. The prestigious event, curated by the state's Department of Industries, seeks to showcase Bihar as a vibrant investment destination. "The inaugural edition in 2023 witnessed participation from over 600 entrepreneurs from India and abroad. Bihar Business Connect 2023 was a landmark initiative. During the two-day summit held last year, a total of 278 investment proposals amounting to Rs 50,530 crore were signed as MoUs, out of which 244 projects worth Rs 38,000 crore have already been implemented on the ground," an official statement said. This investment has significantly accelerated industrial development in the state and created numerous employment opportunities. "Considering the success of last year's Bihar Business Connect, the Department of Industries, Government of

Centre grants approval for 47 ethanol projects in Bihar for loan subsidies

A total of 47 projects from Bihar have been issued in-principle approvals for interest subvention on bank loans for establishing new or expanding existing distilleries, the government said on Wednesday. Currently, 22 ethanol distilleries - 8 molasses-based and 14 grain-based - are operational in Bihar, Minister of State for Food Nimuben Jayatibhai Bambhaniya said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The government is implementing the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme nationwide, with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) selling petrol blended with ethanol. Under the programme, the government has set a target of 20 per cent ethanol blending with petrol by 2025-26. To boost ethanol production capacity and meet blending targets, the Centre has introduced various Ethanol Interest Subvention Schemes from 2018 to 2022. Under these schemes, 47 projects from Bihar have received in-principle approvals, she said. For each Ethanol Supply Year (ESY), OMCs invite bids from distilleries for etha

NIA conducts searches in Bihar in over recovery of AK-47 rifle parts

Searches by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are underway at several locations in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district in connection with its probe into the procurement of AK-47 rifle butt and scope, a senior officer said. Muzaffarpur Deputy SP A C Gyani said sleuths of the federal agency started conducting the raids at 5 AM. "Sleuths of the federal investigation agency are searching the premises of one Devamni Rai in Kudhni area in connection with its probe into the recovery of one butt and one scope of an illegally procured AK-47 rifle from his possession." There are reports that NIA sleuths have also recovered unaccounted cash from his premises, and a note-counting machine has been brought, the deputy SP. Notably, the Bihar Police had busted a network of arms smugglers in May this year and arrested two persons Vikash Kumar and Satyam Kumar from Muzaffarpur railway station in connection with the recovery of the AK-47 rifle parts. A preliminary investigation revealed that Vikash h

Bihar fully prepared to create robust biz ecosystem: Deputy CM Choudhary

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has asserted that the state is fully prepared to create a robust business ecosystem with improved infrastructure facilities along with better law and order situation, while assuring domestic and global firms that their investment is "safe". In a podcast interview with PTI, Choudhary, who is also the finance minister, highlighted the steps that are being taken by the state government to change the image of Bihar and attract investments into the state for creating employment opportunities and achieving higher economic growth. The state government is organizing 'Bihar Business Connect' Summit on December 19-20 here to attract investments. "With the guidance of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar is fully prepared to create a robust business ecosystem. Bihar is ready to stand with you, offering all the support needed for your success," Choudhary said. He invited domestic and global corporates to visit Bihar an

Bihar sees 15-fold jump in data consumption, state goes big on infra

Bihar has seen a 15-fold jump in data consumption in the last five years as the state goes big on developing infrastructure, investing in connectivity and building rail and road networks, its Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena said. Bihar has witnessed unprecedented growth in infrastructure development with its road density being the third largest in India that facilitates trade and transport. Its electricity generation has expanded from 700 MW to 7,000 MW while the state has built IT parks and data centres are in the offing. Infrastructure is the focus, Meena, the top-most bureaucrat in the Bihar government, said adding massive investments have gone into building infrastructure in the last two decades. "If I talk of the road sector, we have a network of 1.2 lakh kilometres of rural roads. It has been built completely during the last 20 years. We have a very strong network of national highways, state highways and major district roads. And I am happy to share with you that during the .

Watch: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visits Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya

BPSC School Teacher re-exam result 2024 announced, view how to check

Bihar Public Service Commission has announced BPSC School Teacher re-exam result 2024. Candidates can check the results through the official website of BPSC at bpsc.bih.nic.in