Introduction

The Bihar Budget 2025-26, finalized at ₹3,16,895.02 crore lakh crore, marks a significant 13.69% increase from the previous year’s ₹2,78,725.72 crore, unveiled on March 11, 2025, just months before the state elections in November. This financial blueprint skillfully balances long-term economic aspirations with immediate welfare measures, carrying a clear electoral undertone aimed at wooing key voter groups. With substantial investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, rural development, and social welfare, the budget reflects the JD(U)-BJP coalition’s intent to address Bihar’s deep-rooted socio-economic challenges while reinforcing its political stronghold through targeted, voter-friendly policies.

Education secures a landmark ₹60,954 crore allocation—funding scholarships, new degree colleges, and improved school infrastructure, while healthcare spending triples to ₹20,335 crore for new hospitals and enhanced district-level services. Rural and agrarian growth is prioritized with increased support for MSMEs, irrigation projects like the Western Koshi Canal, and the new Makhana Board, alongside infrastructure boosts like greenfield airports in Bhagalpur and Raxaul. Women’s empowerment initiatives, including Pink Buses, Pink Toilets, and e-rickshaw subsidies, further highlight a strategic mix of development and populism, designed to consolidate support and enhance electoral appeal in a competitive political arena.

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