States » EastPosted at: Oct 28 2026 9:26PM


Bihar cabinet approves AI Policy 2026 along with major projects

Patna, Oct 28 (UNI) The Bihar Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Bihar Artificial Intelligence Policy 2026 to promote AI-based governance, innovation and digital enterprises, and cleared several proposals relating to industrial development, roads, aviation, technical education, digital services, railway connectivity and flood management.
Additional Chief Secretary Arvind Chaudhary said the AI policy envisages financial incentives for AI companies, global capability centres, startups and digital enterprises, including capital investment and interest subsidies, support for cloud computing, lease rentals, electricity charges, employment generation and SGST reimbursement. It also aims to promote AI applications in agriculture, healthcare, education, manufacturing and urban services, besides developing innovation hubs, data platforms and IT parks.
The Cabinet approved the establishment of a sugar mill on 115.08 acres of the 266-acre closed Motipur Sugar Mill land in Muzaffarpur and the transfer of the remaining 151.58 acres to the Industries Department for industrial development under the state's Saat Nischay-3 programme.
It sanctioned Rs 2.60 crore for consultancy services for the proposed 90-km Vishwamitra Path connecting Buxar, Ara and Maner, and Rs 2.10 crore for the 73.51-km Narayani Path between Darihara (Konhua) and Dumaria Ghat in Gopalganj district.
The consultancy work will cover preparation of detailed project reports, land acquisition and statutory and environmental clearances. The Narayani Path project will be implemented by the Bihar State Road Development Corporation under the public-private partnership model on a DBFOT-toll basis.
The Cabinet also approved Rs 18.21 crore for a feasibility study on underground road corridors in Patna, including proposed links between R Block crossing and Kankarbagh, and Dak Bungalow crossing and Patna Women's College.
Another Rs 68.69 crore was sanctioned for widening and strengthening an 8.35-km road from Deendayal Upadhyay Chowk to Bhawanpura in the Bhagalpur division. The existing 3.75-metre-wide road will be upgraded to a seven-metre-wide, two-lane road, with four box culverts, an RCC bridge and roadside drains.
For regional air connectivity, the Cabinet approved Rs 43.50 crore as viability gap funding for the Airports Authority of India under the UDAN scheme for 29 months from May 2026 to September 2028. It also cleared a 30-year lease of 1,000 square metres at the Saharsa airstrip to GRD Air Academy Pvt Ltd to establish a flying training organisation.
An annual expenditure of Rs 58.80 crore was approved to arrange hostel accommodation in private buildings for around 49,000 students enrolled in government engineering colleges and polytechnic institutions, at Rs 1,000 per student per month.
The Cabinet sanctioned Rs 2.34 crore for providing government services and information through WhatsApp, with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited selected as the implementing agency. The platform will provide updates on government schemes, direct benefit transfer alerts, weather, admit cards, examination results and health-related services.
For the Supaul-Araria railway line, the Cabinet approved the transfer of 3.12725 acres of land in Pipra circle to the union Railway Ministry against a payment of Rs 66.98 lakh.
It also cleared the transfer of 21.48068 acres of government land in Triveniganj and Pipra circles for Rs 4.22 crore. Separately, 28 decimals of public land in Beladhi village, Sasaram circle, Rohtas district, will be transferred to the union Home Ministry for an office-cum-residential complex of the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau for Rs 63 lakh.
The Cabinet approved a Rs 1.99-crore study by the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, to identify flood-prone areas along the Kosi, Gandak and Sone rivers.
It also cleared technical assessments of designated dams under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, including reservoir surveys, drainage-capacity tests, emergency action plans and assessment of potential flood-risk zones. The study is targeted for completion within eight months.
In another decision, the Cabinet approved a scheme estimated at Rs 37.09 crore for constructing a check dam and pathway near the Teldiha Durga temple on the Badua river in Banka district. The project aims to ensure water availability upstream, protect the temple from river erosion and improve tourism facilities.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of an additional State Information Commissioner post in the Bihar Information Commission.
It further approved one additional District and Additional Sessions Judge post for an exclusive special court under the NDPS Act in Madhubani and two additional district judge-level posts for exclusive commercial courts in Patna to hear commercial disputes involving more than Rs 1 crore.
UNI RS BM
Tags: #Bihar cabinet approves AI Policy 2026 along with major projects
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