The Bihar cabinet, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on Tuesday announced a 35 per cent quota for women in government jobs but said that these will be restricted to only permanent residents of the state. The decision was taken with barely a few months left before the state goes to the polls, amid growing demands for the implementation of a domicile policy in government jobs.
“The cabinet approved an important proposal of the General Administration Department, allowing the 35 per cent quota for women in government jobs to be restricted only for permanent residents of Bihar. The new policy will enhance financial independence and job security for permanent resident women of the state,” Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat) S Siddhartha said.
The government had introduced 35 per cent reservation for women in government jobs at all levels in 2016. Earlier, women from any state could have taken advantage of it. Ahead of the Assembly elections, the demand for the implementation of a domicile policy has been growing. The 2025 Bihar Assembly election for all 243 constituencies is scheduled to be held in October or November.
Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has promised ‘100 per cent domicile’ if the RJD comes to power following the polls. The government on Tuesday also decided to constitute the Bihar Youth Commission, with the aim of providing more employment opportunities for the youth of the state. “I am happy to inform you that with an aim of providing more and more employment opportunities to the youths of Bihar, training them, and making them empowered and capable, the state government has decided to constitute Bihar Youth Commission,” the CM said in a post on X.
“This commission will play a significant role in advising the government on all matters related to improving and uplifting the condition of youths in the society. It will also coordinate with government departments to ensure better education and employment for the youth,” he said. Kumar said the objective of this “visionary initiative” was to make the youth self-reliant, skilled, and employment-oriented.
“The Bihar Youth Commission will consist of a chairperson, two vice-chairpersons, and seven members, with a maximum age limit of 45 years,” he said.
“The Youth Commission will monitor and ensure that youth of the state are given priority in private sector employment within the state, while also protecting the interests of youth studying and working outside the state,” the CM added.
Oppn joins against voters list revision
As opposition parties join hands to hit out at the Election Commission over intensive revision of Bihar’s voters’ list, poll authority officials said on Tuesday that the exercise is “inclusive”. The opposition has increased its intensity of attack on the EC for the electoral roll revision, saying it will deprive crores of voters their right to exercise franchise.
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on July 10 a batch of petitions challenging the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. Several fresh pleas including a joint petition by opposition parties leaders of Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, JMM, CPI and CPI (ML) were filed in the apex court against the poll panel’s decision ahead of the state polls later this year.
As the top court is set to become the new battle ground between the opposition and the poll authority, EC officials said the revision exercise is all-inclusive as it is reaching the existing 7,89,69,844 electors of Bihar.
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