Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday announced a uniform application fee of ₹100 for the preliminary stage of all competitive examinations in the state, with no fee to be charged for the mains. The move is expected to ease the financial burden on lakhs of job aspirants ahead of the upcoming state elections.
The announcement follows a major pre-election promise made on July 17, when Kumar declared that eligible domestic consumers in Bihar would receive up to 125 units of electricity free every month from August 1, 2025. The scheme is set to benefit nearly 1.67 crore households.
“We have been providing electricity to everyone at affordable rates from the very beginning. Now, from August 1, all domestic consumers will not have to pay for electricity up to 125 units. This will benefit a total of 1 crore 67 lakh families in the state,” Kumar said in a post on X.
The electricity plan also includes the installation of solar power plants over the next three years on rooftops or nearby public spaces with consumer consent. Under the Kutir Jyoti scheme, the state will bear the full cost for extremely poor families. The government estimates the initiative will generate up to 10,000 MW of solar energy within three years.
In addition, Kumar last month directed the Education Department to assess vacant teaching positions and prepare for the Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE) 4. He reiterated the state’s policy of reserving 35% of teaching jobs for women — a quota applicable only to Bihar residents.
Political observers view the exam fee reduction and free electricity scheme as part of a wider strategy by the ruling government to consolidate voter support in the run-up to the polls.
