Union Budget 2025: What’s in for poll-bound Bihar in Sitharaman’s budget plan

Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman introduced several initiatives for poll-bound Bihar as she presented the 2025-2025 Union Budget. Sitharaman laid out the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government as the country heads towards the next financial year.

The initiatives introduced in the budget include the establishment of a Makhana Board, National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and management, greenfield airports, etc. In addition to this, Sitharaman also proposed the expansion of IIT Patna, so that more students could be admitted to the institution along with the West Kosi canal project in Mithilanchal.

Interestingly, these initiatives were proposed in the parliament as the state is scheduled to conduct its Assembly election this year. Bihar has remained a politically contentious state for a very long time, with the alliance shifting quite often.

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On Saturday, Sitharaman created history after she presented her eighth consecutive budget in the Indian parliament, the highest ever being presented by any finance minister. This was the first full budget of the NDA government after the alliance came to power for the third consecutive time.

From the Makhana board to greenfield airports, Bihar remained prominent in the budget

As part of the Modi government’s commitment to supporting food processing and the centre’s focus on empowering the poor, she announced a National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Management. The institutes established in Bihar will aim at boosting food processing activities across the eastern region.

This initiative will have two key outcomes: first, it will enhance farmers’ incomes by adding value to their produce, and second, it will create skilling, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities for the youth in the region.

Apart from this, Sitharaman also introduced the establishment of the Makhana Board in Bihar. She called it a “special opportunity” for the people of the state. The initiative will aim to enhance the production, processing, value addition, and marketing of Makhana, offering significant growth potential for this traditional crop and boosting Bihar’s agricultural economy.

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One of the initiatives which caught attention was the Modi government’s plan to establish Greenfield Airports in Bihar. The airport will be constructed in the Western Kosi Canal Project in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar.