Nitish Kumar announces 35% Govt job quota for women ahead of Bihar polls

The Bihar Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on July 8 approved 35% reservation for women in all state government jobs. The decision will apply to all direct recruitment posts and services, and will be available only to women who are original residents of Bihar. The proposal was passed during a cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister.

The move comes months before the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled for October–November. In total, 43 proposals were cleared during the cabinet meeting, including key decisions related to employment, youth welfare, and agriculture. As part of the employment-focused measures, appointment letters were distributed to newly recruited Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) during a programme in Patna.

Another major decision was the formation of the Bihar Youth Commission. The commission will advise the government on policies related to education and employment of youth in the state. It will consist of one chairperson, two vice-chairpersons, and seven members. The maximum age limit for members is 45 years. The commission will also prepare programmes to address issues like alcohol and substance abuse among youth.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar posted on X: “With the aim of providing more and more employment opportunities to the youth of Bihar, training them, and making them empowered and capable, the state government has decided to form the Bihar Youth Commission, and today the cabinet has also approved the formation of the Bihar Youth Commission.”

In a separate announcement last month, the state government raised the pension amount under the Social Security Pension Scheme to ₹1,100 for the elderly, widows, and the disabled. The increased amount will be credited from July, with disbursements to be made on the 10th of every month.