Bihar Cabinet gives nod to develop 300 B.Ed. Colleges into multidisciplinary degree colleges
Student Credit Card scheme and ‘Kushal Yuva Programme’ extended for another five years.
On August 12, 2026, the Bihar cabinet granted approval to transform 300 private B.Ed. institutions into multidisciplinary degree colleges. This move will add another 300 degree colleges offering undergraduate programs in various disciplines along with B.Ed. and skill-based courses, according to Mohammad Sohail, Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat Department.
The decision aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and guidelines from the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). The new academic programs will follow the standards set by the university, UGC, NCTE, and the state government, ensuring students have more opportunities for higher education within or near their districts, thereby boosting access and increasing the state's Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER).
The Cabinet also extended the Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme for five more years, approving ₹950 crore for the current fiscal year. This extension will benefit 4.15 lakh students by providing greater access to higher education. Additionally, the 'Kushal Yuva Programme' was extended till 2030-31 under 'Seven Nischay Part-3', with ₹430.08 crore allocated for training in future skills like AI, drones, solar, networking, digital marketing, banking, telecom, foreign languages, and entrepreneurship. This initiative aims to create 6,436 employment opportunities and train 2,57,440 youth annually.
Another decision approved a ₹1,000 crore budget for the 'Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana', offering ₹10,000 per kilowatt (maximum ₹20,000) as financial assistance to residential consumers for installing rooftop solar panels. The state will contribute financially in addition to the central government's share. To enhance waste management, the cabinet decided to set up Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants in Gaya Ji, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, and Biharsharif (Nalanda) municipal corporations, converting organic waste into renewable energy. The government will provide 10 acres of land to IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, and GAIL for this purpose.
Lastly, the cabinet lifted restrictions on land purchase, sale, and transfer in notified Greenfield Satellite Cities after the final publication of the Development Plan, and extended the power of Bihar Urban Development Authority to lift restrictions on land transactions after the draft Development Plan is published. The Youth, Employment, and Skill Development Department's proposal to amend ITI admission processes was also approved, allowing 50% of sanctioned seats in private ITIs to be filled through BCECEB, Patna.
In total, 11 decisions were made during the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
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