Makhana board, food institute and airports: Bihar gets big pie in Union Budget 2025-26
The announcements made for Bihar in the budget will give further impetus to the development of the state, said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
In the Union Budget 2025-26 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 made several announcements for Bihar including setting up a new Makhana Board, a National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, greenfield airports, expansion of Patna airport and a canal project in Mithilanchal.
A Makhana Board will be established in the state to improve production, processing, value addition, and marketing of makhana, Sitharaman announced.
“The people engaged in these activities will be organized into FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations). 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.
The Finance Minister also proposed the setting up of a National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management in Bihar to provide a strong fillip to food processing activities in the eastern region.
Sitharaman also proposed financial aid for the Western Kosi Canal ERM project in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar, benefiting several farmers cultivating over 50,000 hectares of land in Bihar. The Finance Minister also announced the expansion of the existing IIT in the state.
Welcoming the central government’s announcement Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said it would help accelerate the development of Bihar.
“This budget of the Central Government is progressive and future-oriented. Through this budget, the Central Government has taken several steps to further increase the pace of development of the country. The announcements made for Bihar in the budget will give further impetus to the development of Bihar,” Kumar said.
“Makhana farmers will benefit from the establishment of Makhana Board in the state to improve the production, processing, value addition and marketing of Makhana. Providing the facility of Greenfield airports in Bihar to meet the future needs of the state will increase the number of international flights and will greatly benefit the people here and will also accelerate the economic development of the state,” the chief minister said.
National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management
The Union finance minister also announced the setting up of National Institute Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management in the state.
Under the Poorvodaya scheme, the government is formulating an all-round development of the eastern region states covering Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
The institute will provide a strong fillip to food processing activities in the entire eastern region. This will result in enhanced income for the farmers through value addition to their produce and skilling, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for the youth.
Airports in Bihar
The Budget outlined Centre’s plan to facilitate four greenfield airports in the state to meet its future needs. These will be in addition to the present airport in Patna.
These will be in addition to the expansion of the capacity of Patna airport and a brownfield airport at Bihta, Sitharaman said.
IIT Patna
The Centre also announced to expand infrastructure and hostel facilities in IIT Patna. Indian Institute of Technology Patna was established in August 2008 by an act of Parliament. The government has declared it an Institute of National Importance.
Support for Western Kosi Canal
The Union Budget announced financial support for western Kosi canal, benefiting 50,000 hectare in Mithilanchal region of Bihar.
“Financial support will be provided for the Western Koshi Canal ERM Project benefitting a large number of farmers cultivating over 50,000 hectares of land in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar,” she said.
