Patna: The Bihar Government has announced the start of the fourth phase of the Chief Minister Fellowship Scheme (CMFS), with applications opening from January 16, 2026, and closing on January 31, 2026. The announcement was made by Dr. Vinita Singh Sahay, Director of IIM Bodh Gaya, during a press briefing in Patna organized jointly by the Bihar Administrative Reform Mission Society and IIM Bodh Gaya.
Under the scheme, a total of 121 fellows will be selected by IIM Bodh Gaya for placement in various administrative offices across the state. A three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on November 27, 2025, between the General Administration Department, Bihar Administrative Reform Mission Society, and IIM Bodh Gaya to implement the fellowship.
Fellows to be Placed Across Key Administrative Offices
The fellowship aims to engage talented young professionals in policy formulation and implementation, contributing to effective governance and accelerating Bihar’s development. The two-year program will start with a 40-day training at IIM Bodh Gaya, after which fellows will be assigned to various offices including:
- Municipal Corporations, District Collectorates, and Divisional Commissioner Offices
- Departments of the Secretariat, Development Commissioner Offices, Chief Secretary, Deputy Chief Minister’s Office, and Chief Minister’s Secretariat
This strategic placement ensures that fellows gain hands-on experience in policy execution, public administration, and governance reforms.
Read also: Bihar Launches QR Code Monitoring for PMGSY Roads, Citizens Can Report Potholes via Mobile
Stipend and Eligibility Criteria
Fellows will receive a monthly stipend ranging from ₹80,000 to ₹1,50,000, based on their experience and placement:
- Municipal, DM, and Divisional offices: ₹80,000 (3 years’ experience)
- Secretariat Departments: ₹1,00,000 (6 years’ experience)
- Development Commissioner & Chief Secretary Offices: ₹1,25,000 (8 years’ experience)
- Deputy Chief Minister & Chief Minister’s Secretariat: ₹1,50,000 (10 years’ experience)
Candidates must be Bihar residents under 45 years of age with a postgraduate degree in management, public policy, development studies, public administration, regional planning, science & technology, or related fields. Valid scores in CAT, GMAT, GRE, GATE, UGC-NET, or CSIR-NET are required, although graduates from nationally recognized institutions and universities may receive exemptions from entrance tests.
The fellowship also provides mentorship, planned training, and reservation benefits as per Bihar Government guidelines. Upon completion, fellows will receive a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Policy and Governance from IIM Bodh Gaya and a work experience certificate from the Bihar Government.
Application and Interview Schedule
The previous phases of CMFS saw structured selection processes:
- Phase 1: Applications closed December 17, 2025; interviews December 27-28, 2025
- Phase 2: Applications closed December 31, 2025; interviews January 10-11, 2026
- Phase 3: Applications closed January 15, 2026; interviews January 24-25, 2026
- Phase 4: Applications open January 16-31, 2026; interviews February 7-8, 2026
The final results for Phase 4 are expected in the first week of March 2026, with training commencing in March and assignments starting in April 2026.
Online Application Details
Interested candidates can apply online at https://iimbg.ac.in/cmfs/. For further information, queries can be emailed to [email protected].
During the press conference, officials from Bihar Administrative Reform Mission Society, including Rashid Kaleem Ansari, Satish Ranjan Sinha, and public relations officer Nupur Jha, were also present.
