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Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
With free power sop before Bihar Assembly polls, why Nitish Kumar has stepped up solar pitch
In a populist move just a few months before the Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar Thursday announced free electricity up to 125 units for all domestic consumers in the state, numbering 1.67 crore families. Nitish's announcement in an X post also proposed the installation of solar power plants on rooftops of public places as well as people's houses with their consent, indicating how a power-starved and financially-constrained state like Bihar could benefit by scaling up its renewable energy production. Earlier this month, the Nitish-led NDA government announced its Renewable Energy Policy 2025 that has set an ambitious target for alternative energy production in Bihar, while also aiming to attract large investments to boost the state's industrial growth. Currently, Bihar meets its peak demand of over 8,500 MW power almost entirely from thermal plants and electricity imported from other states, which often command higher prices. Bihar also spends heavily to keep power affordable. In 2024-25, the state provided about Rs 15,343 crore in subsidies, delivering electricity to farmers at just Rs 0.55 per unit and offering significant tariff relief for domestic users. These factors have led to the Nitish Kumar government's decision to seek cheaper power through renewable energy production. However, despite having the potential, Bihar has remained a laggard in this sector. As of early 2025, the state's installed renewable energy capacity amounted to just 539 MW, which mostly comprises smaller projects. The state's installed solar capacity stands at only 328.3 MW, making it one of the least solarised big states in India, whose cumulative solar installations have surpassed 116 GW. The Nitish Kumar government hopes to turn this around with its renewable energy policy, aiming to reach 23 GW by 2030. The policy offers investors a bouquet of incentives, including 100% SGST reimbursement, exemption from electricity duty for 15 years, guaranteed feed-in tariffs, carbon credit eligibility and a single-window clearance. The government has also proposed to earmark 5% of the renewable energy budget for R&D in a bid to spur 'long-term innovation'. 'Come and invest,' says state Energy Department secretary Manoj Kumar Singh. 'Our renewable energy demand is 23 GW by 2029-30. The investments in Bihar are going to fetch maximum returns.' JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad also sought to link free power with renewable energy. 'The announcement of the renewable energy policy is a revolutionary step. It is a roadmap that will not only ease the life of common man through cheap power but also give the country green energy. It is evidence that Nitish Kumar never makes any announcement without budgetary planning,' Prasad told The Indian Express. The Nitish Kumar government is looking to dovetail this push with its roadmap for the state's industrial growth, which would get a boost from abundant cheap power. In 2016, the state rolled out its industrial policy, providing various incentives to attract investments. The state has received investment proposals worth over Rs 1.81 lakh crore so far, of which projects worth Rs 84,000 crore have been committed. Government sources said the renewable energy sector is expected to contribute significantly to the investment growth in the state. 'One pumped storage project awaiting approval alone is worth over Rs 36,000 crore. The new renewable energy policy will expedite the project,' an official in the state Industry Department said. According to Mihir Kumar Singh, additional chief secretary of the Industry Department, textiles, leather, and food processing are among the fastest-growing sectors in Bihar, aided in part by the shifting global trade dynamics. 'Whatever is happening in the world in terms of trade tariffs is benefiting industry here. This is an opportune moment for India to bring business back, especially in ready-made garments,' Singh said, noting that India's main competitors in this area remain Indonesia, Bangladesh and China. He claimed how Bihar's 'cost-effective and trained' labour pool, mainly comprising returned migrant workers, gives it an edge. 'Migrant labour is willing to come back to Bihar. Water is plentiful, land is fertile, and labour is cheap,' he said. Singh noted that the industrial investments in the textile sector have increased in districts like Muzaffarpur, Patna, Begusarai and Madhubani, where major companies are either setting up their units or expanding their presence. Bihar's industrial policy, particularly in sectors like textiles and food processing, has played a 'catalytic role', he said, listing '100% GST subvention, stamp duty waivers, and infrastructure support for large investments' among its key incentives. Singh pointed out that while Bihar is rising agriculturally, especially in the production of food grains and pulses, it has been lagging in the establishment of the food processing infrastructure. 'Even in the green bowls of Bihar like the old Shahabad region, raw produce is procured by middlemen and processed in western UP. This is what we are trying to change,' he said. The additional chief secretary cited animal feed manufacturing as having 'tremendous potential', referring to Bihar's high maize production and low prices. 'We are the maize bowl of India. It is the cheapest here at Rs 22 per kg. Only soya comes from outside. All big companies are now coming here,' he claimed. Singh said the MSME sector is also investing in makhana (fox nut) processing, with several projects getting underway in the state. On the ethanol front, Bihar is said to enjoy an advantage over traditional sugar-producing states. 'All sugar factories in the South and Maharashtra are water-stressed. That gives us an advantage. Our only real competition is from UP,' Singh said. He however flagged a bottleneck in this regard – that the ethanol production quota is set by the Centre. 'We are quickly exhausting our quota. We have written to the Centre to raise it, but things haven't moved. If India has to reach 25% ethanol blending, Bihar's quota has to be increased.' Beyond these priority areas, Singh pointed to a broader momentum in general manufacturing, buoyed by global headwinds. 'In a recent buyer-seller meet in Patna, we hosted 85 buyers from 20 countries. For the first time, we exported 15 tonnes of litchi to the Lulu Group,' he said.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Chirag should clarify stand on fighting polls: JD(U) min
1 2 Patna: Senior JD(U) leader and state IPRD minister Maheshwar Hazari on Friday launched a sharp attack on LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, criticising his repeated assertions about contesting all 243 seats in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections . Speaking to reporters in Khagaria, Hazari said, "If Chirag wants to contest the elections on his own, he should declare it publicly. It is not right to say one thing on stage and another off stage. This should not happen. He is a Union minister in the NDA govt and should follow coalition dharma." Chirag, whose party leader Rajesh Kumar won the Khagaria Lok Sabha seat in 2024, has increasingly positioned himself as the state's principal Dalit voice, a strategy JD(U) sees as divisive and politically provocative. Further criticising Chirag, Hazari said, "There is no substitute for CM Nitish Kumar in Bihar, nor will there be. Everyone knows who was responsible for JD(U)'s third-place finish in the 2020 assembly elections, but despite that, Nitishji became CM and continued for five years." Hazari's remarks alluded to the 2020 elections when Chirag's LJP fielded candidates against JD(U) in several seats, which is widely believed to have contributed to JD(U)'s losses. Hazari also accused Chirag of undermining the coalition by publicly attacking the state govt. "While being part of the NDA, he keeps criticising the state govt from public platforms. This is against the coalition dharma," he said. The minister was responding to Chirag's remarks regarding the state's law and order situation. Defending the Nitish-led govt, Hazari added, "The govt is working effectively. Negative statements are being made only to create confusion among the public." Chirag, who frequently raises law and order issues in his speeches, has also claimed credit for the Bihar Youth Commission, which was approved in the recent state cabinet meeting. In public rallies, he has reiterated that his party is preparing to contest all 243 seats, saying that he is committed to returning to Bihar politics with his 'Bihar First, Bihari First' vision. Responding to Hazari's statements, LJP(RV) functionary Arun Bharti said, "We cannot become Dhritarashtra for the nation. There are concerns in society and among the people of Bihar about crime and criminals. This society gives us our leaders and leadership. Raising these concerns within the alliance and communicating them to our partners is not a violation of coalition dharma," Bharti said.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nitish betrayed socialist ideals: RJD state chief
Madhubani: During his first visit to home district after assuming charge as the RJD state president, Mangani Lal Mandal on Saturday launched a scathing attack on CM Nitish Kumar and his govt. Addressing a large gathering of party leaders, MPs, MLAs and supporters at a reception event held near Rampatti Jail on Saturday, Mandal accused the Nitish-led govt of betraying the ideals of socialist icons such as Ram Manohar Lohia and Karpoori Thakur over the past two decades. He alleged that the govt had reduced marginalised communities, including mahadalits, dalits and extremely backward classes (EBCs) to mere vote banks, using deceptive policies and schemes while denying them dignity and rights. Mandal criticised the govt for rising crime, corruption and administrative oppression, claiming that the voices of ordinary people were being silenced and the issues of the poor overlooked. Praising RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav , Mandal commended his efforts to unify society and bring marginalised groups into the mainstream. He accepted the party's mandate as a challenge, vowing to form a govt in 2025 that would represent the poor, labourers and oppressed communities. He added that the new administration would focus on employment, education, healthcare and the empowerment of weaker sections.
NDTV
20-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Bihar-Made Engines To Run Trains In Africa: PM Modi In Siwan Rally
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke about Bihar's promising future and also the likely emergence of its new identity on the global stage, stating that the growth engine of Bihar, which was stopped during the Congress-RJD regime, will now power the trains and wagons in Africa. Addressing the public gathering in Bihar's Siwan, PM Modi said, "Now the engine made in Bihar will run the trains of Africa. I firmly believe that Bihar will become a big centre of Made in India." "Madhoura railway factory is an example of what kind of Bihar the NDA is building. Today, the first engine from the locomotive factory of Madhoura is being exported to Africa. This factory was built in the same Saran district that was abandoned by the lalten and panja," PM Modi told the gathering. He further stated, "Not only will the makhana, fruits and vegetables from here go abroad, but the goods made in the factories of Bihar will also reach the world markets." PM Modi's promise of turning Bihar into a hub of the 'Made in India' project drew praise from the audience, where he launched a slew of projects ranging from train infrastructure to a housing scheme. He also vowed to continue his service and make constant endeavours towards Bihar's overall development. "Modi will not sleep peacefully, he will keep working day and night, he will keep working for you," he told the crowd. PM Modi further said that, unlike the 'era of jungle raj', Bihar has made remarkable progress in various sectors and credited the Nitish-led NDA government for ushering in the positive change. He said that in the past 11 years, India has achieved many milestones, something which is being acknowledged by world bodies, and Bihar has taken a lead role in those accomplishments. The Prime Minister slammed the previous Congress-RJD-led dispensations, accusing them of plunging Bihar into darkness and said that, unlike them, the double-engine government ushered in a new era of growth in the state. Tearing into 'lalten and panja' rule, he said that during Congress-RJD's governance, poverty became the misfortune of Bihar because of constant loot of the state's resources, but it's the Nitish-led NDA government that brought the state back on track of development. "I assure the people of Bihar that even though we have done a lot, we have been doing it and will continue to do it. I still have a lot more to do for Bihar," PM Modi said.
India Today
30-04-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Why prohibition is back in focus in Bihar
Bihar's bold prohibition experiment—a statewide ban on liquor imposed in April 2016—has resurfaced as a fault line in the run-up to assembly polls this year. Once extolled by chief minister Nitish Kumar as a moral triumph that would curb societal violence and uplift the lives of women, prohibition now serves as political ammunition for both the ruling alliance and the rallies and media briefings, parties of every stripe are questioning the ban's efficacy and accusing rivals of betrayal—all in the hope of converting the debate over enforced sobriety into electoral OF THE BANIn April 2016, the Nitish-led grand alliance outlawed every drop of alcohol in Bihar. Bars and vends had to shut down at a moment's notice. Women's collectives marched through village lanes, chanting hymns of deliverance. Nitish himself hailed prohibition as a 'new dawn' for Bihar, promising that families would now be able to redirect their newfound savings into education, nutrition and a more dignified life. With Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) serving as deputy chief minister at the time, the measure was embraced both as a moral imperative and an electoral as the initial euphoria waned, the ban's unintended aftershocks rippled through daily life. In eight years and by last August, over 1.28 million arrests had been made under the prohibition law—an average of 18 people every hour and nearly all from the most marginalised castes. Jails overflowed and courts were flooded with hooch-related litigation even as illicit liquor poured in from neighbouring now in the Opposition, has alleged that at least 2,000 lives have been lost to spurious brews, a grim tally that even the defenders of prohibition barely geography compounds enforcement woes: 22 of its 38 districts share borders with Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Nepal, regions where alcohol is legal. The most formidable stretch is the 1,800-km-long Nepal frontier, pocked with unguarded transit points. Electronics, narcotics, firearms, counterfeit currency and more slip through these porous seams with ease. For smugglers, this corridor is providential; to expect the Bihar police, even with support from the central Sashastra Seema Bal, to seal the border entirely is being overly TODDY, KISHOR'S REPEALIn this charged electoral atmosphere, Tejashwi has made a dramatic claim. On April 27, clutching a clay pot used by the Pasi community to gather traditional palm wine, he vowed to exempt toddy from prohibition, quash all pending cases against tappers and grant the trade full 'industry status'. By portraying the ban as an affront to heritage and livelihood, Tejashwi had clearly questioned Nitish's well-intentioned reform that he believes has harmed the very people it had aimed to Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraj Party, offering yet another twist to the narrative. Kishor has pledged that should his coalition assume power, it will repeal the prohibition law in entirety, legalising the sale of all alcoholic beverages. With characteristic panache, he argues that a nuanced regulatory framework—rather than an outright ban—can reconcile public health with individual freedom to drink. He also proposes using liquor revenue to fund world-class education in Bihar. For the record, the state forfeited over Rs 4,000?crore in excise duty and sales tax in 2014-15, a sum projected to have crossed Rs 20,000?crore by to cede the moral high ground, the ruling alliance of BJP, Janata Dal (United) and smaller parties has launched a vigorous counter-offensive. Deputy chief minister Samrat Chaudhary accused Tejashwi and his family of backing liquor sellers and the Opposition of opportunism. From the Nitish government's perspective, the ban remains a badge of honour, a bold step that has helped curb crime, save families from financial ruin and empower HUMAN COSTOn paper, prohibition reinvigorated household budgets. In its early years, honey sales surged by nearly 400 per cent and the premium sari market ballooned by over 1,700 per cent as families were thought to have redirected money once devoted to drinking. State surveys even indicate that nearly a fifth of households invested liquor savings in durable assets—appliances, livestock—and these figures harbour a double edge. Economists caution that such spikes may simply reflect a rerouting of the same funds and not an absolute gain in welfare. Did villagers truly prosper or did they merely buy necessities long postponed? And what about the thousands still trapped in legal limbo, incarcerated on charges that seldom end in conviction? The human cost of these statistics belies any straightforward narrative of 'savings'.The champions of prohibition highlight early declines in violent crime and testimonials from women of feeling safer at home. Yet, in many rural corners, these benefits have proved fragile. Makeshift distilleries sprang up in backyards, clandestine supply chains thrived and police crackdowns often verged on harassment. The Pasi community—Dalit tappers at the heart of the toddy debate—suffered acutely, stripped of a lawful livelihood and left to nurse deep grievances since the state lavished benefits on other groups, such as free bicycles for schoolgirls, and expanded job quotas for AS A RUBICONProhibition has become an electoral test of Bihar's grand experiment in a social reform. Tejashwi wields toddy as both a symbol and talisman, appealing for 'bread-and-butter justice' over abstract moral posturing. Kishor's promise of full repeal offers a different path: pragmatic regulation, merging economic realism with social compassion. The Nitish-led camp, by contrast, insists that resolute legislation, however uncomfortable, remains indispensable to societal dry-state law was never merely about banning alcohol; it was a testament to Nitish's conviction that legal mandates can reshape society. Yet as voters now weigh these reforms, they confront a deeper dilemma: can top-down policies deliver lasting benefits or do they simply transpose hardship onto the vulnerable? Will Bihar's electorate validate the prohibition experiment or spurn it when the so-called cure seems to taste as bitter as the disease itself?The fate of prohibition, whether lauded as a triumph of moral governance or condemned as a misbegotten gambit, will depend on which vision prevails: Tejashwi's appeal to tradition and caste solidarity, Kishor's call for measured pragmatism or Nitish's insistence that bold laws beget bold progress. The Bihar voter will judge to India Today Magazine
