In a significant move ahead of Bihar’s upcoming assembly elections, expected in October or November 2025, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced free electricity for all state consumers using up to 125 units. The initiative, effective from August 1, 2025, and reflected in July’s billing cycle, aims to ease financial burdens for households. “We’ve always provided affordable electricity. Now, from August 1, domestic consumers won’t pay for up to 125 units,” Kumar shared on X.
The policy is set to benefit approximately 1.67 crore families across Bihar. Additionally, Kumar unveiled plans to install solar panels on household rooftops or nearby public spaces, with consumer consent, over the next three years. Under the Kutir Jyoti scheme, the state will fully fund solar installations for extremely poor families and provide support for others.
In another pre-election push, Kumar directed education officials on Wednesday to fast-track the Teachers’ Recruitment Exam (TRE)-4 to fill vacant teaching positions in government schools. Posting on X, he emphasized identifying vacancies and launching the exam promptly, noting that 35% of posts will be reserved for women from Bihar. The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) will oversee the exam for primary, middle, secondary, and senior secondary teachers.
Education Minister Sunil Kumar told reporters that TRE-4, expected to create over 1.2 lakh teaching jobs, will be conducted before the election’s model code of conduct takes effect. Previous recruitment drives saw 1.7 lakh teachers hired in TRE-1, 70,000 in TRE-2, and 66,603 in TRE-3 against 87,774 vacancies. A notification for TRE-4 is anticipated soon, according to education department officials.