Patna, July 18: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday announced that domestic consumers in the state will receive up to 125 units of electricity free of cost each month starting August 1, in a move seen as a major pre-poll sop ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections.
The decision, announced via social media platform X, is expected to benefit approximately 1.67 crore households and will result in an additional ₹3,375 crore burden on the state exchequer, according to Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Samrat Choudhary. The total subsidy allocation for the initiative is estimated at ₹19,370 crore.
“We have been providing electricity at affordable rates. Now, from the July bill onwards, all domestic consumers will not have to pay anything for consumption up to 125 units,” Kumar wrote in his post.
The Bihar government also plans to install solar power plants on rooftops or nearby public spaces of residential consumers over the next three years. Under the Kutir Jyoti Scheme, extremely poor families will receive 100% state support, while others will be eligible for partial assistance. Kumar said the initiative could generate up to 10,000 megawatts of solar energy.
The announcement is the latest in a string of welfare promises from the Janata Dal (United) leader as Bihar prepares for elections. On Wednesday, Kumar directed the education department to begin preparations for the fourth phase of teacher recruitment, targeting over one lakh new hires. Last week, he pledged to create jobs for one crore youth by 2030. In June, the government raised monthly pensions for the elderly, widows, and the differently-abled from ₹400 to ₹1,100.
However, the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) accused Kumar of copying its poll promises. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had pledged 200 units of free electricity in November 2024. “It was Tejashwi ji’s promise. Now Nitish Kumar has been forced to implement it,” said party spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav, who also pointed to the pension hike as another instance of the ruling party mirroring RJD proposals.
He further claimed the government may soon adopt RJD’s proposed ₹2,500 monthly assistance to women under the Mai-Bahin Samman Yojana.
Kumar’s stance appears to have shifted from February 2024, when he ruled out free electricity during the Budget Session, citing affordability and sustainability concerns. At the time, Energy Minister Bijendra Yadav had questioned the viability of such schemes, warning of financial strain on the state.
Despite criticism, the latest subsidy announcement adds to the government’s expanding list of populist measures ahead of elections, with Nitish Kumar betting on electricity relief and solar infrastructure to shore up voter support.
