From resurgence to renaissance: Bihar’s march toward a new era

The people of Bihar have spoken with clarity and conviction. This mandate is not merely an electoral victory; it is a reaffirmation of Bihar’s collective faith in the path of development, stability, and good governance. As we step into a new term, the responsibility ahead is immense, but so is our determination to accelerate the journey of progress that has transformed millions of lives over the past decades. Under the visionary guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the steady and experienced leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar has been on a remarkable path of transformation. This mandate is a reaffirmation that the people want this journey to continue with greater momentum. Over the past decade, Bihar has undergone an extraordinary shift in its development trajectory. What was once a state struggling for basic roads, healthcare access, electricity, and administrative stability is today a state that is building expressways, attracting industries, empowering women, strengthening agriculture, and expanding welfare delivery with remarkable speed. None of this happened overnight. It is the result of consistent effort, collaborative governance between the Centre and the State, and a clear commitment that the fruits of development must reach every home, every village, and every citizen. Infrastructure has been the backbone of Bihar’s resurgence. The expansion of national highways and state roads has fundamentally changed the pace of life and commerce in the state. Through major projects like the AIIMS-Digha elevated road, the Patna-Buxar highway, the Patna Gaya route, and the fast-progressing Ganga bridge projects including the monumental Kacchi Dargah Bidupur bridge, Bihar’s connectivity has been reshaped. Roads that once took hours to traverse can now be covered in minutes. Markets have become more accessible, schools and hospitals easier to reach, and transport of goods more efficient. Whether it is the Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga corridor, Sitamarhi link roads, or other regional connectors, Bihar’s Road network has become a symbol of its new aspirations. Railways have witnessed a similar transformation. Modern trains such as Vande Bharat Express have begun operating in Bihar, bringing faster and more comfortable travel to the people. Station redevelopment in Patna, Rajendra Nagar, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, and Begusarai reflects the state’s growing infrastructure ambitions. Electrification and doubling of tracks have improved safety and efficiency, benefiting both passengers and industries dependent on freight movement. Under Prime Minister Modi’s national vision for rail modernisation, Bihar has been an important beneficiary. Healthcare in Bihar has expanded rapidly. AIIMS Patna now serves as a major centre of advanced treatment, and new medical colleges in Purnea, Madhepura, Bettiah, Nalanda, Vaishali, and Chhapra are strengthening both medical education and district-level services. Ayushman Bharat has provided lakhs of families with crucial financial protection, while Health and Wellness Centres have brought primary care closer to rural homes. Under the combined leadership of the Centre and State, healthcare has moved from scarcity to steady, structured growth. Agriculture, too, has seen a major transformation. The Kosi-Mechi Link Project and over Rs 11,000 crore in central assistance have strengthened irrigation and flood management across vulnerable regions. Modernisation of the Sone canal, soil testing, mechanisation, agricultural credit, and PM-KISAN have significantly improved farmers’ financial stability. Guided by the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Bihar’s agricultural sector has become more resilient, productive, and future-ready, with targeted policies bringing real change to rural lives. Social welfare programmes have transformed lives across Bihar. Under PM Awas Yojana, lakhs of families now have permanent homes, an outcome of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unwavering commitment to ensuring dignity and security for every household. Ujjwala Yojana has provided clean cooking fuel to lakhs of women, improving their health and easing daily hardship. The Jal Jeevan Mission has brought reliable tap water to rural homes that once depended on distant or uncertain sources, reflecting the Prime Minister’s focus on essential services for all. Swachh Bharat has strengthened sanitation infrastructure and awareness, driving a major shift in rural hygiene practices and advancing the nationwide cleanliness movement inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bihar’s industrial landscape is gaining new momentum. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, new industrial parks in Gaya, Purnea, Motihari, and Sitamarhi are drawing investment in food processing, agro-industries, textiles, and small manufacturing, giving a decisive push to regional growth. MSMEs, strengthened by Mudra loans and the Credit Guarantee Trust, have become major engines of employment and entrepreneurship across the state. Youth skill development centres, upgraded ITIs, and vocational institutes are preparing young people for modern trades from logistics and healthcare to hospitality and digital services, reflecting the Prime Minister’s unwavering focus on skill enhancement and future-ready employment. Education has expanded significantly, with new universities, engineering colleges, and agricultural institutions, alongside the implementation of the National Education Policy, opening wider opportunities for students. Digital India, driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has bridged the urban-rural divide by bringing broadband connectivity, e-governance, and digital financial services to every corner of Bihar. Atmanirbhar Bharat has provided a powerful national framework for Bihar’s aspirations. Under this vision of self-reliance articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the State has embraced local production, skill development, agricultural mechanisation, and empowerment of small and micro enterprises. The emphasis on building domestic capacity, strengthening supply chains, promoting rural industries, and encouraging innovation has fuelled a new sense of purpose among Bihar’s youth and entrepreneurs. Atmanirbhar Bharat is not merely a slogan, it has become a road map through which Bihar is positioning itself for sustained economic independence and future-ready growth. Self-employment and entrepreneurship have emerged as engines of transformation in Bihar. Thousands of youths are now turning to self-employment not out of compulsion, but out of ambition, whether through food processing units, small manufacturing setups, digital service centres, agri-based enterprises, or rural startups. Schemes such as Mudra Yojana, PM SVANidhi, Stand-Up India, and access to collateral-free credit have helped young entrepreneurs overcome traditional financial barriers. Simultaneously, skill development centres, upgraded ITIs, and digital training hubs are equipping youth with capabilities for modern trades. This surge in self-employment reflects a deeper economic awakening in which Bihar’s youth are becoming job creators, innovators, and contributors to local economies. Urban development, too, has progressed. Under the Smart Cities Mission, cities like Patna, Bhagalpur, and Muzaffarpur have seen improvements in traffic systems, surveillance, solid waste management, public service integration, and infrastructure. AMRUT projects have strengthened water supply, sewerage networks, urban transport, and green spaces. These improvements have contributed to more organised and sustainable urban life. Energy infrastructure has expanded rapidly. Bihar today has almost universal household electrification, supported by new substations, upgraded transmission lines, and reduced outages. The extension of gas pipelines under the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Yojana has introduced cleaner energy for households and industries. It is in the context of this large-scale progress that the contrast with the past becomes unmistakable. Bihar has moved far away from the era once described as “jungle raj”, a period associated with fear, administrative paralysis, and a breakdown of law and order. The transformation from that uncertainty to today’s environment of stability, infrastructure expansion, and welfare delivery is a testament to what focused governance can achieve. The people’s mandate has made it clear that Bihar must never lose the progress it has gained, and must never return to an atmosphere where insecurity overshadows opportunity. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership, Bihar has seen what cooperative federalism and purposeful governance can accomplish together. Today, Bihar stands on a stronger foundation with better roads, robust welfare programmes, improved healthcare, expanding educational institutions, and systems built on transparency and efficiency. With this new mandate, the people have expressed their desire for development to move even faster. They want more industries, more jobs, stronger agricultural support, better healthcare access, modern schools, advanced digital infrastructure, and continued focus on women, youth, and the most vulnerable. They want Bihar to align itself with India’s goals for 2047 to become a state that contributes confidently and meaningfully to the national journey towards becoming a developed nation. This victory is a reminder of responsibility more than celebration. It is an assurance that the people believe in a development-first model of governance. It is a call to deepen our commitment, accelerate our work, and ensure that the benefits of growth reach every corner of the State. Bihar today moves forward with steady leadership, visionary national guidance, and the collective hope of millions. With humility and determination, we remain committed to building a Bihar that is stronger, more prosperous, and more confident than ever before. BJP National Media Co-Head, National Spokesperson and Chief Whip of the BJP in the Bihar Legislative Council. Over the past decade, Bihar has undergone an extraordinary shift in its development trajectory