Patna: In a significant boost to the state’s energy sector and public employment initiatives, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday distributed appointment letters to 2,390 newly selected candidates under the Energy Department at an event held at the Vidut Bhawan, Patna. The event also marked the formal implementation of the Pumped Storage Policy-2025, aimed at strengthening the state’s renewable energy infrastructure.
The appointments include 1,810 technicians, 512 correspondence clerks, and 68 store assistant staff. CM Nitish Kumar personally handed over appointment letters to three candidates—Sunny Saket, Ashutosh Kumar, and Mohit Kumar Bhatt—symbolically inaugurating the process. Congratulating the recruits, the Chief Minister urged them to work diligently and contribute to Bihar’s development.
State Employment Initiatives
CM Nitish Kumar highlighted the government’s ongoing commitment to youth employment, noting that over 8 lakh youth were provided government jobs between 2005 and 2020. Under the Saat Nischay-2 program launched in 2020, the state committed to providing 10 lakh jobs and 10 lakh employment opportunities, and so far has delivered 50 lakh jobs and employment opportunities. The government now aims to double this target to one crore jobs and employment opportunities over the next five years.
Implementation of Pumped Storage Policy-2025
During the program, the Chief Minister also oversaw the signing of a memorandum of understanding to establish pumped storage projects in Bihar, aimed at enhancing energy security and promoting renewable energy. Under the new policy, Bihar State Power Generation Company Limited selected two agencies—Greenko and Sun Petro—to implement the projects in hilly regions of Nawada district, where natural elevation differences are ideal for pumped storage.
The Greenko project will have an energy storage capacity of 7,308 MW, while the Sun Petro project will provide 6,973 MW, totaling 14,281 MW. These projects are expected to attract ₹13,000 crore in investment and generate employment for approximately 8,000 people during construction. The initiatives will also help integrate renewable energy, manage peak demand efficiently, stabilize the grid, and provide affordable electricity to consumers.
State Load Dispatch Center (SLDC) and Energy Management
Before distributing appointment letters, CM Nitish Kumar inspected the State Load Dispatch Center (SLDC) at Vidut Bhawan. The center coordinates electricity production, transmission, and distribution within Bihar and with other states, ensuring real-time monitoring and smooth power system operation.
Bihar is the first state in the Eastern region to implement such a system, which enhances energy accounting transparency, accurate meter reporting, and reduces transmission losses. Additionally, the SLDC now employs an Automated System Balancing Mechanism (ASBM) to minimize power outages and manage load efficiently.
The state also established a Cyber Security Operation Centre (CSOC) at Vidut Bhawan, India’s first AI and ML-enabled 24×7 cybersecurity monitoring facility for the power sector. The center received national recognition last year as an excellent center of excellence.
Key Leaders Present
The program was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Minister for Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission Chairman Amir Subhani, other senior officials, and the newly appointed candidates.
