Madhubani Saree To New Airports — Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget 2025 Has Bihar Election Written All Over It

What Budget Has For Bihar: Ahead of Bihar elections, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several initiatives for Bihar in her Budget speech.

Nirmala Sitharaman announces the Budget in Lok Sabha on Saturday.

Source : Sansad TV

With the Bihar Elections due this year, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman put out all hints of pleasing the state even before beginning her Budget 2025 speech. Arriving at the Finance Ministry in a white Madhubani saree, which has origins in Bihar and Nepal's Mithila region, Sitharaman set the tone for the Budget.

Ten minutes into the Budget speech, Sitharaman made it clear that Bihar would not be disappointed. She made several key announcements for Bihar.

What Has Bihar Got In Union Budget 2025?

Food Technology Institute

She said a National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management to be set up in Bihar to provide a strong fillip to food processing activities in the entire Eastern region. She said: "In line with our commitment towards Mission Purvodaya, we will establish a National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management in Bihar." This will have a two-fold impact: enhanced income for the farmers through value addition to their produce, and skilling, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for the youth.

Makhana Board In Bihar

Sitharaman said: "It is encouraging that our people are increasingly becoming aware of their nutritional needs... A comprehensive programme to promote production, efficient supplies, processing, and remunerative prices for farmers will be launched in partnership with states. Appropriate institutional mechanisms for implementation and participation of farmer producer organizations and cooperatives will be set up."

Towards this end, Sitharaman announced that Bihar will also get a separate Makhana board to promote the production and processing of foxnuts and its value addition, and marketing. "The people engaged in these activities will be organized into FPOs. The Board will provide handholding and training support to makhana farmers and will also work to ensure they receive the benefits of all relevant Government schemes," she said.

Airports In Bihar

In Addition to the modified UDAN scheme, Sitharaman announced greenfield airports for Bihar. "Greenfield airports will be facilitated in Bihar to meet the future needs of the State. These will be in addition to the expansion of the capacity of Patna airport and a brownfield airport at Bihta," she said.

Big Boost for Bihar’s Aviation! ✈️🔥#Budget2025 brings a game-changer—Greenfield Airports in Bihar to enhance connectivity & drive growth! 🚀

This adds to the Patna Airport expansion & the upcoming Brownfield Airport in Bihta. A new era for Bihar’s infrastructure! 💪 #Bihar pic.twitter.com/6kQorQhs8c

— Bihar Infra & Tech (@BiharInfra) February 1, 2025

Boost To Western Kochi Canal Project

The Western Kosi Canal ERM project in Mithlanchal will get a boost with huge financial aid. This will help in the irrigation of 50,000 hectares in the region.

Empowering Mithila’s Farmers! 🌾💧

Heartfelt thanks to Hon. Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman ji from the people of Mithila for announcing financial support for the Western Kosi Canal ERM project. This initiative will benefit over 50,000 hectares of farmland, ensuring improved… pic.twitter.com/o6INM0c6Fq

— Sanjay Kumar Jha (@SanjayJhaBihar) February 1, 2025

The Western Kosi Canal Project is part of the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme in Bihar. It was approved for execution in 1971, following an initial approval in 1962. It involves the construction of a 91.83 km main canal. Its primary goal is to provide irrigation facilities to the Madhubani and Darbhanga districts of Bihar.

Boost To Gaya Tourism

Nirmala Sitharaman also hinted at developing tourism in Bihar's Gaya, saying: "Continuing with the emphasis on places of spiritual and religious significance in the July Budget, there will be a special focus on destinations related to the life and times of Lord Buddha."

#UnionBudget2025 updates#Tourism related announcements in the #Budget presented by @nsitharaman pic.twitter.com/dLn4DeMzIc

— AIR News Puducherry (@airnews_puduvai) February 1, 2025

IIT Patna Expansion

Sitharaman said the total number of students in 23 IITs has increased 100 per cent from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh in the past 10 years. "Additional infrastructure will be created in the 5 IITs started after 2014 to facilitate education for 6,500 more students. Hostel and other infrastructure capacity at IIT, Patna will also be expanded," she said

She also announced additional financial aid for IIT-Patna. 

#BudgetOnABP | बिहार पर सरकार का फोकस, IIT पटना को वित्त पोषित किया जाएगा..... साथ ही IIT में 6500 सीटें भी बढ़ाई जाएंगी

LIVE देखें - https://t.co/ZW8MlTvTBs

LIVE पढ़ें - https://t.co/5V8KEHT8gU #BudgetSession2025 #NirmalaSitharaman #Budget2025 #India #IIT #Bihar pic.twitter.com/SHjdGSxbfE

— ABP News (@ABPNews) February 1, 2025