With the Bihar Assembly elections looming, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has rolled out a series of proposals on Thursday, including “free electricity” aimed at bolstering public support. Kumar announced that starting August 1, 2025, all domestic consumers in Bihar will receive up to 125 units of electricity free of charge each month, a move expected to benefit approximately 1.67 crore households. This announcement, coupled with directives to expedite teacher recruitment through the Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE-4), underscores the state government's focus on addressing key voter concerns ahead of the polls, likely to be held in October or November 2025.
In a post on X, Kumar emphasised his administration’s commitment to affordable electricity, stating, “We have been providing electricity at a cheaper rate since the start. We have now decided that from August 1, 2025, that is, from the July bill itself, all domestic consumers of the state will not have to pay any money for electricity up to 125 units.” This initiative, effective from the July billing cycle, is designed to alleviate financial burdens, particularly for lower and middle income families. The government estimates that this will directly impact 1.67 crore families, offering significant relief to rural and economically disadvantaged households.
Additionally, Kumar outlined plans to expand renewable energy infrastructure, announcing that within the next three years, solar power plants will be installed on rooftops or in nearby public spaces with consumer consent. Under the Kutir Jyoti scheme, the state will fully fund solar installations for extremely poor families, while others will receive government support. This initiative aims to generate up to 10,000 megawatts of solar energy, enhancing energy sustainability while ensuring continued free electricity for up to 125 units.
On Wednesday, Kumar directed the Education Department to fast-track the recruitment of teachers by conducting the TRE-4 examination at the earliest. In a post on X, he wrote, “The education department has been instructed to identify vacancies of teachers in government schools and initiate the process to conduct the TRE-4 examination at the earliest. The state government has already clarified that the benefit of 35 per cent reservation for women in appointments will be given to those who are residents of Bihar.” This move is expected to create over 1.2 lakh teaching positions, building on previous recruitment drives that appointed 1.7 lakh teachers in TRE-1, 70,000 in TRE-2, and 66,603 in TRE-3.
The announcements come as Bihar gears up for its Assembly elections, with the Election Commission yet to confirm exact dates. Political analysts view these measures as strategic efforts to strengthen the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) position, led by Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Earlier this week, the Bihar Cabinet also approved a plan to create 10 million jobs and employment opportunities over the next five years
The opposition, particularly the RJD, has been vocal in its criticism. RJD labeled the announcements as election driven gimmicks, suggesting they lack sincerity given their timing. Critics argue that the sudden push for TRE-4, with only months left before the elections, may face delays due to the impending model code of conduct, which could restrict new policy implementations. The RJD has also highlighted Bihar’s persistent challenges, such as migration and unemployment, as areas where the NDA government has fallen short. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s campaign over the past two years has focused on migration, calling it one of Bihar’s most pressing issues, a sentiment echoed by Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar as well.
