Patna: Under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar has witnessed a significant rise in government employment and salary expenditure over the past 20 years.
According to figures presented in the 2026-27 state budget during the recent legislative session, the salary budget has increased more than 13 times since 2005-06.
- 2005-06: ₹5,152 crore allocated for salaries
- 2025-26: ₹51,690 crore
- 2026-27: ₹70,220 crore
This marks the highest-ever allocation under the salary head in Bihar’s history.
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Pension Allocation Also Sees Major Increase
Along with salaries, pension expenditure has also grown substantially.
- 2005-06 Pension Budget: ₹2,456 crore
- 2026-27 Pension Budget: ₹35,170 crore
The pension allocation now stands at nearly half of the total salary expenditure, reflecting the expanding government workforce and long-term fiscal commitments.
Government Workforce Expands to 9.5 Lakh
The consistent rise in salary allocation highlights the expansion in government recruitment across key departments such as:
- Education
- Police
- Health
- Other administrative services
Currently, the total number of government employees in Bihar has increased to approximately 9.5 lakh, compared to just 3–3.5 lakh employees two decades ago — marking more than a threefold increase.
In the past two years alone, over 2 lakh appointments have been made, including teachers, constables, and other personnel.
Target of 10 Lakh Government Jobs and Beyond
The state government has been working toward its target of providing 10 lakh government jobs and generating employment opportunities for over 1 crore people. The continuous recruitment drive across departments indicates that the state is moving steadily toward achieving and surpassing this goal.
Employment Expansion Driving Budget Growth
The 13-fold increase in the salary budget over two decades clearly reflects:
- Expansion of public services
- Large-scale recruitment drives
- Strengthening of governance and administrative capacity
- Increased focus on employment generation
With record allocations in the 2026-27 budget, Bihar’s employment expansion appears set to continue, further boosting both public services and economic activity in the state.
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