Salary Bonanza in Bihar: Ministers of State to Earn 30% More

In a significant step ahead of the coming Bihar Assembly elections, the government of Nitish Kumar has increased the salaries and allowances of persons who hold posts as equivalent to the Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers by 30%. The move, made at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, increases the monthly salary of these posts from ₹50,000 to ₹65,000. Besides that, local allowance has been raised from ₹55,000 to ₹70,000, daily allowances from ₹3,000 to ₹3,500, and hospitality allowances from ₹24,000 to ₹29,500.

The hike also covers whips of parties in the Legislative Assembly and Council, as well as chairmen and members of state boards and commissions, who have similar perks. Though no Ministers of State or Deputy Ministers are at present in the Bihar government, the new pay scale is likely to fill state board and corporation posts lying vacant.

Besides the salary increase, the cabinet approved the establishment of more than 26,000 new positions in different departments, including 20,016 positions in health-related directorates. This move comes as part of wider initiatives aimed at improving governance and public services in Bihar.

Source: Business Today