Bihar Cabinet approves domicile policy in school teachers’ appointment

In order to implement the domicile policy in the State, the Bihar cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) gave its nod to “Bihar State School Teacher (Appointment, Transfer, Disciplinary Action & Service Conditions) (Amendment) Rules 2025” as per which people hailing from Bihar alone will be eligible for appointment as school teachers in the State.

As per Rules 2025, the students who have passed matriculation and intermediate from the State will get priority in the appointment of education department’s jobs— both in teaching and non-teaching, Cabinet Secretariat Department’s Additional Chief Secretary S. Siddharth told reporters in a post cabinet briefing.

Mr. Siddharth added that the move would enable around 85% of reservation in jobs for the people originally hailing from the State. Only 15% will be left open as an unreserved category in which people from across the country can appear for the examinations for getting jobs, he said while asserting that “domicile policy has been implemented in the State.” 

The Rules will come into effect with the holding of Teachers Recruitment Examination (TRE)-4 which is scheduled to be held this year (2025) and TRE-5 which will be held in 2026. 

Mr. Kumar had on Monday (August 4, 2025) directed education department officials to amend the relevant rules to give priority to the people of Bihar in the teacher appointment.

The State government on July 8, 2025 had approved 35% reservation in all the government jobs “only for women domicile”. The women from the State have been getting the benefit of 35% reservation in State government jobs since 2016. 

The Cabinet also decided to hike in the honorariums of support staff working in education, health and rural development departments which include school cooks, watchmen, physical education instructors, Mamata, ASHA and sanitation workers

The Cabinet approved the Education Department’s proposal to change the reference date to complete 75% attendance to avail the various benefits like scholarships, uniform and bi-cycle through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Mr. Siddharth said that the reference date will now be April 1 to July 31, 2025 as against the existing reference date of April 1 to September 30.

The decision will be applicable to all the government, government aided (including minority) secondary and higher secondary schools.

With a view to provide better and quality education to the students through digital medium, the Bihar Cabinet also gave its nod for opening a “digital library kendra” in all 243 Assembly constituencies of the State.

The “digital library kendra” in every Assembly constituency will be set up under Mukhya Mantri Digital Library Yojana at an estimated cost of ₹94.50 crore. 

“The digital library will be set up in a panchayat building, block office, municipal council building, nagar panchayat building, community halls, school and college premises having additional space for the purpose and other places,” Mr. Siddharth said adding that each library will have 10 computer terminals equipped with electricity and high speed internet connectivity.

In another important decision, the Cabinet approved the energy department’s proposal for setting up a 2400 MW (800 MWX3) thermal power plant in place of a solar power plant at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur, Mr. Siddharth said.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to run inter-State bus service on a PPP mode in order to deal with the rush of passengers between Durga puja and Chhath and during Holi, Mr. Siddharth said.

Around 6,000 people from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan come to Bihar during the festivals on a daily basis, a Cabinet press note said.

As per the scheme, Bihar State Road Transport Corporation, Patna will have an agreement with private bus operators for starting service for a period of five years . A total of ₹35.64 crore will be spent during a period of five years. 

The Cabinet gave its approval for expansion of industrial areas to promote investment and creation of employment opportunities in different districts. Total 36 decisions were approved in the Cabinet meeting.