CM Nitish Kumar Unveils Youth and Cultural Welfare Schemes Ahead of Assembly Elections

In a major step towards enhancing youth employability and cultural preservation, the Bihar Cabinet on July 1, 2025, approved several welfare schemes, including the Mukhya Mantri Pratigya Yojana for internship support, the Mukhya Mantri Kalakar Pension Yojana for senior artists, and a ₹882 crore development plan for the revered Punaura Dham temple in Sitamarhi. These schemes reflect the government’s efforts to address employment, culture, and tourism in the run-up to the Assembly elections.

Why in News?

The Bihar Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, cleared 24 key proposals on July 1, 2025, focusing on youth welfare, cultural support, and religious tourism development, with special attention to upcoming elections. The initiatives aim to strengthen employment opportunities, boost heritage tourism, and extend financial security to cultural artists.

1. Mukhya Mantri Pratigya Yojana – Internship Support Scheme

• Objective: Provide monthly financial assistance to youth pursuing internships.

Eligibility

• Age: 18–28 years
• Education: Class 12, ITI, diploma, graduate or postgraduate
• Trained under skill development programmes

Benefits

• ₹4,000/month for Class 12 holders
• ₹5,000/month for ITI/diploma holders
• ₹6,000/month for graduates/postgraduates
• Additional ₹2,000/month if interning outside the home district
• ₹5,000/month if interning outside Bihar (for max 3 months)
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to beneficiaries’ bank accounts
• Implementation: Monitored by a Task Force led by the Development Commissioner with industry bodies like CII and FICCI

Target

• 5,000 beneficiaries in 2025–26
• 1 lakh youth over five years (2026–2031)

2. Mukhya Mantri Kalakar Pension Yojana – Pension for Artists

• Objective: Financial aid for senior artists to preserve Bihar’s cultural heritage

Eligibility

• Minimum 10 years in classical, visual, or performing arts
• Age: 50+ years
• Annual income: below ₹1.2 lakh
• Benefit: ₹3,000/month pension
• Budget: ₹1 crore allocated for 2025–26

3. ₹882.87 Crore for Maa Janaki Temple at Punaura Dham

• Location: Sitamarhi district; believed to be birthplace of Goddess Sita
• Project Vision: Modeled on Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir

Fund Allocation

• ₹137 crore for temple restoration and premises
• ₹728 crore for tourism infrastructure
• ₹16 crore for 10-year maintenance
• Executing Agency: Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation

4. Employment Rule Amendments

• Amendment to Bihar Factory Rules, 1950
• Provision: Allows women (excluding pregnant/lactating) to work in hazardous factory units
• Aim: Boost women’s industrial employment