Karuna Kumari
Patna, December10: : The Nitish Kumar government approved a wide-ranging set of proposals at its cabinet meeting on Tuesday, clearing 19 agenda items that include a dearness allowance hike, major administrative restructuring, and new departments focused on youth, skills and higher education.
Under the revised structure, government employees, pensioners and family pensioners drawing pay under the Sixth Central Pay Commission will now receive 257% dearness allowance, up from 252%, with effect from July 1, 2025. Employees under the Fifth Pay Commission scale will see their rate rise to 474%, from 466%.
The cabinet also approved a compassionate appointment for Mo Imdad Raza, son of BSF Sub-Inspector Mo Imtiaz, who was killed during Operation Sindoor.
Structural overhaul: three new departments
In one of its most significant decisions, the cabinet approved the creation of the Youth, Employment and Skill Development Department, the Higher Education Department, and the Civil Aviation Department. The government said the move is intended to bring sharper focus to youth skilling, employment generation, higher education reforms and the expansion of aviation infrastructure.
Two new directorates — the Directorate of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and a reorganised Directorate of Mines and Geology — were also cleared. The latter has been split into two directorates, and further into sub-directorates dedicated to mines and security, with the aim of improving oversight of mining leases and cracking down on illegal extraction and transportation.
The Directorate of Small and Medium Enterprises and a Marketing Promotion Corporation will also be set up to support industrial growth.
New focus areas and renamed departments
The cabinet approved changes to departmental names, reflecting shifts in policy focus. The Animal and Fisheries Resources Department will now be known as the Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resources Department; the Labour Resources Department becomes the Labour Resources and Migrant Worker Welfare Department; and the Art, Culture and Youth Department is renamed the Art and Culture Department.
Gaya and Munger have been designated as new civil security districts, adding to the existing network of 28 such districts.
MoUs to support skills and investment
To expand financial awareness and skill development among students, the government cleared an MoU with the National Stock Exchange of India for the Student Skilling Programme, which will include webinars and offline seminars.
Another MoU was approved with the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited to support a range of state projects. The government said the new measures reflect its priority to accelerate employment generation, improve higher education standards and strengthen infrastructure across Bihar.
