Nitish Kumar Announces 125 Units of Free Electricity for Bihar Households from August 1

New Delhi (India) July 17: As part of his ongoing campaign commitments, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that all families will receive 125 units of free energy starting on August 1. 

It is anticipated that 1.67 crore families in the state will profit from the action. The decision comes months before important Assembly elections.

Kumar said, "From the very beginning, we have been providing electricity to everyone at affordable rates. Now, we have decided that starting from August 1 - that is, from the electricity bill for the month of July - all domestic consumers in the state will not have to pay anything for up to 125 units of electricity," in a post on social media platform X. 

Solar push across Bihar

He also said that solar power plants will be put on neighboring public areas or on the rooftops of homes. It will be done throughout the course of the coming three years.

Support for poor families

As part of the Kutir Jyoti Yojana, the Bihar Chief Minister announced that the government will cover all of the costs for poor families to build solar power systems.

He said, "For the remaining families, the government will also provide appropriate support... Over the next three years, the state is expected to generate up to 10,000 megawatts of solar energy."

Bihar's finance department had earlier denied rumors that the state government will give up to 100 units free power. 

In Bihar, urban household customers paid ₹7.42 per unit for the first 100 units and ₹8.95 per unit after that. The government subsidy for electricity users is not included in these tariffs. 

Domestic customers in rural areas pay a fixed price of ₹7.42 per unit. For the power subsidy, the state government contributes ₹15000 crore.

Poll promises gain pace

Nitish has also instructed authorities to start the TRE 4 process a day earlier. He calls for quick teacher recruitment at government schools.

Last Monday, the Chief Minister said that women who are state permanent residents will be given a 35% reservation in government positions.

The action appears as an attempt to increase the Chief Minister's popularity among female voters. Women are predicted to be important in the November elections. Nitish's series of declarations come before the late 2025 Bihar elections.

Tejashwi Yadav is the RJD leader and former deputy chief minister of Nitish. He has also announced a number of welfare commitments. One of them includes up to 200 units of free electricity.

Aadrika Tayal