In poll mode, Bihar Cabinet approves pension hike, wedding halls, subsidised food
In Assembly election-bound Bihar, the government on Tuesday announced a slew of new measures, including community wedding halls in each panchayat, subsidised eateries in each block, and financial assistance to women entrepreneurs from poor families.
The decisions were announced following a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Last week, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had announced a hike in social security pension from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100 per month for 1.11 crore beneficiaries, including the elderly, disabled and widows. This proposal also got the Cabinet's approval on Tuesday.
As per the announcements, wedding halls under the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Vivah Mandap Yojana will be constructed in all 8,053 gram panchayats of the state at a cost of Rs 50 lakh each. Rs 4,026 crore will be spent on this in different phases over five years.
The Cabinet also approved the Rural Development Department's proposal to run Jeevika Didi Ki Rasoi at block-level offices. The Didi Ki Rasoi will provide food at a subsidised rate of Rs 20 per plate at block-cum-circle offices, sub-divisional and district-level offices, as well as government medical colleges and hospitals.
Also cleared was the setting up of a committee under the chairmanship of the Development Commissioner to find ways and criteria for the disbursal of Rs 2 lakh to women entrepreneurs from 94 lakh poor families.
The Cabinet also approved enhancing bank loans for Jeevika from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10 lakh at an annual interest rate of 7%. The state government will reimburse any interest beyond this rate.
A proposal allowing gram panchayats to take up works up to Rs 10 lakh under MGNREGA, against the earlier limit of Rs 5 lakh, was also cleared.
The Cabinet also approved giving Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to the next of kin of members of the three-tier Panchayat Raj system in case of their death during their tenure.
Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
... Read More
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Union Cabinet clears metro boost for Pune, major rehab push in Jharia, potato research hub in Agra
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved three major development projects, including an extension of the Pune Metro, a revised rehabilitation plan for families displaced by coal fires in Jharkhand's Jharia coalfields, and the establishment of a regional centre of the International Potato Centre in Agra district of Uttar Pradesh. Among the approved projects is a Rs 3,626-crore extension of Pune Metro Line 2, which aims to improve urban mobility in one of Maharashtra's fastest-growing cities, second largest in the state and ninth in the country, Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 12.77-km elevated stretch will link Vanaz and Ramwadi areas of Pune and is expected to enhance last-mile connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, and support the city's green mobility goals, the Minister added. 'The (upcoming) metro lines will further strengthen the transportation model of Pune and bolster the city's infrastructure in the years to come,' Vaishnaw asserted, adding that this would contribute to environmental benefits, reduce the cost of living, and make the Pune Metro one of the largest networks in the country, comparable to the likes of New Delhi.
The Wire
13 minutes ago
- The Wire
IDFC FIRST Bank Introduces UPI Services for NRI Customers Across 12 Countries
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India – Business Wire India IDFC FIRST Bank today announced that Non-Resident Indian (NRI) customers of the bank can now make UPI payments using their international mobile numbers. NRIs can now make real-time UPI payments from their NRE or NRO accounts with IDFC FIRST Bank through the Bank's mobile application, without incurring any charges. Additionally, they have the flexibility to link their IDFC FIRST Bank accounts to other UPI-enabled applications. This facility is available to all IDFC FIRST Bank NRI customers from 12 countries Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the UAE, the UK, and the USA - for INR-denominated transactions within India. With this new feature, IDFC FIRST Bank has seamlessly integrated UPI payments into its digital banking platform for NRIs, enhancing convenience and accessibility. The NRI customers can now send and receive money instantly using QR codes, UPI IDs, or mobile numbers. This allows the Bank to empower its NRI customers to manage their finances with the same ease and security as domestic customers. Key Benefits: • No Indian SIM Required: Use your international mobile number linked with NRE/NRO account • Instant Transactions: Send & receive money or pay bills using QR codes/ UPI IDs/ mobile number • Zero Transaction Fees: Enjoy UPI payments without incurring any charges. • Secure and Reliable: Enjoy the same level of security standards as domestic UPI Ashish Singh, Head Retail Liabilities, "Our vision has always been to simplify and enhance banking, making it accessible no matter where our customers are located. The launch of UPI services on international mobile numbers is a testament to our commitment to innovation, and catering to the unique needs of the NRI diaspora." NRIs can use the UPI facility even while being abroad, provided the payments are for transactions within India. Such transactions do not attract any foreign exchange charges. 3 Simple Steps to enable UPI Transactions and make payments: Step 1: Login to the IDFC FIRST Bank app and click 'PAY' Step 2: Link Bank Account Step 3: Create UPI ID to start making payments. About the Bank IDFC FIRST Bank is a fast growing, new age Private Sector Bank created in India with a vision of building a world-class Bank in India, focused on Ethical, Digital, and Social Good Banking. The Bank has 35.5 million live customers, a customer deposit base of Rs. 2,42,543 crores and loans and advances of Rs. 2,41,926 crores, spread over 60,000 cities, towns, and villages across India. It has 1,002 branches but is built as a digital first Bank in scale, scope, and approach. Its customer deposits are growing at 25.2% YoY and Loans & Advances growing by 20.4% YoY (March 31, 2025) based on friendly user digital interface, ethical approach, customer friendly products, strong brand, and high corporate governance. Its technology stack is built on advanced technology using cloud native experience layer, microservices led architecture, and powered by advanced data platform, analytics, and Artificial Intelligence. Its mobile App is rated 4.9 on Google Playstore with 30 million downloads and 1.7 million ratings and 4.8 on Appstore with 1.86 lakh downloads and 1.5 lakh ratings. The App is rated #1 in India and #4 App in the world by The Forrester Digital Experience Review™: Global Mobile Banking Apps, Q4 2024 for prioritising Customers' financial well-being, comprehensive suite of financial management features, and personalized financial insights, providing educational resources and expert guidance through its Financial Wellness Corner and IDFC First Academy. The 7 Core Principles of IDFC FIRST Bank 1. Vision: Building a world-class Bank in India, focused on Ethical, Digital, and Social Good Banking. 2. Universal Bank: IDFC FIRST Bank is a Universal Bank, offering a comprehensive range of services, including Retail, MSME, Rural, Startups, Corporate Banking, Cash Management, Wealth Management, Deposits, Government Banking, Working Capital, Trade Finance, and Treasury solutions. 3. Ethical Banking: The Bank adheres to a "Near and Dear" test, ensuring its products are so customer-friendly that employees can confidently recommend them to loved ones. The Bank is committed to doing right by customers even when no one is watching and believes that income earned unethically is not worth earning. So, the Bank has simplified descriptions, calculations, and legal jargon to avoid confusing customers and offers 'ZERO FEE Banking' on all savings account services, including SMS alerts, IMPS, RTGS, NEFT, cash deposits, non-home branch access, ATM withdrawals, cheque books, Demand Drafts, Pay Orders, duplicate statements, and other commonly charged services. It is the first and only bank in India to do so. 4. Customer Friendly Banking: IDFC FIRST Bank credits interest monthly on savings accounts. For credit cards, it offers lifetime-free cards with no minimum spend conditions, non-expiring reward points, zero interest on ATM cash withdrawals, and dynamic low APR. Any applicable fees are transparent and clearly explained. 5. Digital Banking: The Bank's modern technology stack delivers high-quality services across mobile, branch, internet banking, call centres, and relationship managers. 6. Social Good Banking: The Bank is financially inclusive with high asset quality. It has financed over 38 million customers, including 16 million lifestyle improvement loans, 15 million loans to 4.3 million women entrepreneurs, 6.5 million vehicle loans, 1 million sanitation loans, 1 million livelihood loans, 300,000 SME loans, and 100,000 home loans. 7. ESG: The Bank holds high ESG scores, reflecting its commitment to financial inclusion and social responsibility. To View the Image, Click on the Link Below: Steps for NRI Customers to activate UPI (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). This is an auto-published feed from PTI with no editorial input from The Wire.
Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Infra push for Jammu and Kashmir: 4 key projects Centre has approved
In a big infrastructure push for Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre on Monday (June 24) sanctioned 19 big road and tunnel projects worth Rs 1,0637 crore. Of these, two tunnel projects and two roads are specially important. What are these projects and why are they important? We explain. While the Centre has sanctioned a total of 19 projects, including tunnels, roadways, flyovers/elevated corridors and bridges, four of them are high-value projects with strategic importance. These are: a tunnel at Pir ki Gali on the Srinagar-Shopian-Bafliaz-Jammu road; the Sadhna tunnel on the Kupwara-Karnah road; a 28-km road stretch from Zaznar to Shopian in south Kashmir; and the resurfacing of the 68-km Trehgam-Chamkote road. Tunnel at Pir Ki Gali (on Mughal Road) The nine-km tunnel, a high-priority project, is being constructed at a cost of Rs 3,830 crore. It will provide all-weather connectivity to the valley through the historic Mughal road that connects Kashmir to Jammu's Pir Panjal region. The tunnel is to be constructed between Chatta Pani in Poonch and Zaznar in south Kashmir's Shopian. Zaznar-Shopian road (south Kashmir) The Centre has also approved the construction/improvement of the 28-kilometer road stretch from Zaznar on the Mughal road to Shopian. The road will be built at a cost of Rs 836 crore and has been declared a high-priority project. Sadhna tunnel in Kupwara (north Kashmir) The other key tunnel project approved by the Centre is the Sadhna tunnel that will connect Kupwara in north Kashmir to Karnah, an administrative tehsil on the Line of Control (LoC). The 7-km stretch will be built at a cost of Rs 3,330 crore and provide all-weather connectivity to the border region. So far, connectivity on this route is affected in winters because of snowfall and avalanches. Trehgam-Chamkot road (Kupwara in north Kashmir) The Centre has also sanctioned the construction/improvement of the Trehgam-Chamkote road, the existing road between Kupwara and Teetwal, the last point on the Line of Control (LoC). The 68-km stretch is being built at a cost of Rs 966 crore. Why these four projects are important The new projects have huge strategic and security importance, especially amid the Centre's push to develop border road infrastructure. In November last year, the Centre announced an ambitious highway project connecting Jammu's Rajouri and Poonch with the Kashmir valley through the existing Mughal road. The new highway— Surankote-Shopian-Baramulla — is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore. It is proposed to pass through Shopian and Budgam before reaching the border region of Uri Baramulla in north Kashmir, a total distance of 300 kilometre. Currently, the Kashmir valley — from Qazigund in south Kashmir to Uri in north Kashmir's Baramulla — is connected through only the NH44 national highway. In case of a crisis or war-like situation, the highway within the valley is vulnerable to sabotage. Therefore, the need for an alternative road was felt to connect the border regions. While the Mughal road, the ancient imperial route linking Srinagar to Lahore, is an alternative road to the valley, it remains closed for around four months during the winters because of snowfall and avalanches. The Pir Ki Gali tunnel, in this context, assumes significance to keep this road open throughout the year. It is also vital in terms of the proposed highway within the valley that connects Shopian to Baramulla, thus lessening the dependence on the existing NH44 highway. The Zaznar-Shopian stretch is also part of this proposed new highway taking off from the Mughal road to Baramulla through Budgam. The Sadhna tunnel is significant for soldiers to access the frontier region of Kupwara. In January this year, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced that a 124-km road project between Rafiabad-Kupwara and Chamkote would be taken up at a cost of Rs 250 crore. The Sadhna tunnel is essential to keep this road link open throughout the year. The Centre has also announced that the Pir Ki Gali and Sadhna tunnel projects will be taken up by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Earlier, the projects were to be taken up by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). The Centre announced that a meeting with the Ministry of Defence would be held and the DPR transferred from NHIDCL to BRO immediately. Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. ... Read More
