National

Bihar Budget: Ahead of State Elections, Nitish Government Introduces Incentives for Women

Published

11 months ago

March 3, 2025

In light of the recent influence of women-centric initiatives on assembly election outcomes in various states, the Bihar government has unveiled a number of benefits for women in the last state budget prior to the upcoming elections. Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Samrat Chaudhary presented a budget of ₹3.17 lakh crore for the 2025-26 fiscal year during the assembly session on Monday.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has placed a strong emphasis on transforming Bihar’s education sector. The state government has once again allocated a significant portion of the budget to enhance educational infrastructure and quality.

The budget includes ₹1,000 crore earmarked for the Bihar Student Credit Card scheme, which aims to support economically disadvantaged students seeking higher education. In addition, the government has doubled the pre-matriculation scholarship for students, and increased the hostel grants for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Infrastructure development has been a primary focus, with the government prioritizing roads, bridges, and public transportation to improve connectivity. Plans have been announced to construct seven new airports, including three Greenfield airports, with flights from Purnia expected to commence within three months.

The finance minister outlined that ₹60,964 crore will be allocated to education, ₹20,335 crore to healthcare, ₹17,908 crore to urban and rural roads, ₹17,831 crore to the Home Department, ₹16,093 crore to rural development, ₹13,484 crore to the energy department, and ₹13,368 crore to the social welfare department. Additionally, a budget provision of ₹3,528 crore has been made for agriculture in the upcoming fiscal year, representing 1.11 percent of the total budget.

To support women, the government plans to establish Mahila Haat in Patna and designate space for women in vending zones across major cities. Furthermore, a marriage hall for economically disadvantaged girls will be constructed in each Panchayat, operated by women self-help groups and offered at minimal cost.

The government will also develop hostels for working women and introduce pink buses in major urban areas, all staffed by women—drivers, conductors, and passengers. In a bid to create more job opportunities for women, training programs will prepare women to take on roles as drivers and conductors, with 33 percent of positions in the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation designated for them.

To encourage self-employment, cash grants will be provided to women purchasing e-rickshaws and two-wheelers for commercial use. Additionally, women-operated vehicle training centers will be established in key cities.

Opposition Leader Tejashwi Yadav expressed his dissatisfaction with the Bihar budget, criticizing the government for not implementing the RJD’s Mai Behan Maan scheme. Bihar State Congress President Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh described the budget as lifeless and ineffective. He suggested that in an election year, the government should have prioritized job creation, employment training for youth, and efforts to alleviate inflation.

“With this being the final budget of the double-engine government, there was hope that the people of Bihar would see some relief from inflation and unemployment. However, the budget seems exaggerated and lacks substantive change,” he stated.

National

Three Burned Alive as Car Falls from Bridge in Gujarat’s Rajkot

Published

1 week ago

January 31, 2026

Namma Kudla

Gujarat: A tragic accident claimed the lives of three people in Gujarat’s Rajkot district on Monday.A car fell from a bridge and caught fire, killing all occupants on the spot.

The incident occurred on the Gondal–Atkot highway.The car was travelling from Chhota Udepur towards Gondal.

According to reports, the vehicle hit the bridge’s safety barrier.After the collision, the car fell nearly eight feet into a small stream below the bridge.

Soon after the fall, the car caught fire.The occupants were trapped inside the vehicle and were unable to escape.All three were burned alive and died at the scene.

Police and fire personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information.The fire was later brought under control.The bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.

The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Further details are awaited.

National

Girl Records Reels Inside Jail, Video Sparks Debate

Published

1 week ago

January 30, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bhopal: A young woman has come under public attention after recording reels inside a jail while meeting her boyfriend.

The incident happened at Raipur Central Jail in Chhattisgarh, which is known for high security. Mobile phones are strictly not allowed inside the jail. Despite this rule, the woman carried her phone into the visitor room.

She recorded videos while talking to her boyfriend during the meeting. In the video, she speaks emotionally about visiting him on his birthday. She says she feels sad because she cannot stay with him on his special day.

After the meeting, she uploaded the video on her social media account. The video quickly went viral on different platforms. The inmate seen in the video is identified as Tarakeshwar.

He is currently lodged in Raipur Central Jail. He is an accused in a case under the NDPS Act. The incident has raised serious questions about jail security.

People on social media are criticising jail staff and officials. Many users are asking how a mobile phone was allowed inside the jail.

They are also questioning the checking process at the jail entrance. So far, jail authorities have not given any official reaction.

National

MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

Published

4 months ago

October 6, 2025

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.