Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Welcomes Special Aid Announcements by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed gratitude after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced special aid for Bihar. Kumar had requested either special status or a special package for the state. The aid includes infrastructure projects like expressways and a new power plant. JDU MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh believes these schemes will boost Bihar’s growth rate. Andhra Pradesh also received special financial support in the Union Budget 2024-25.
Key Announcements for Bihar
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several major projects for Bihar:
- Development of an industrial node at Gaya as part of the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor.
- Construction of road connectivity projects including Patna-Purnia Expressway, Buxar-Bagalpur Expressway, Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Vaishali-Darbanga, and a new two-lane bridge over the Ganga at Buxar, costing Rs 26,000 crore.
- Setting up a new 2400 megawatt power plant at Pirpainti at a cost of Rs 21,400 crore.
Impact on Bihar
JDU MP and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh stated that these schemes will significantly boost Bihar’s growth rate by improving infrastructure, tourism, and irrigation.
Support for Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh also received special financial support, with Rs 15,000 crore arranged for the current fiscal year and additional amounts in future years, recognizing the state’s need for capital as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.
Doubts Revealed
Bihar -: Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage.
Chief Minister -: A Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state. Nitish Kumar is the Chief Minister of Bihar.
Nitish Kumar -: Nitish Kumar is a politician and the current Chief Minister of Bihar. He has been in office for several terms.
Finance Minister -: The Finance Minister is a government official responsible for managing the country’s finances. Nirmala Sitharaman is the current Finance Minister of India.
Nirmala Sitharaman -: Nirmala Sitharaman is an Indian politician serving as the Finance Minister of India. She is responsible for the country’s economic policies and budget.
Special Aid -: Special aid refers to extra financial help given by the government to support specific needs or projects in a state.
Special Status -: Special status is a designation given to a state that allows it to receive extra financial help and benefits from the central government.
Special Package -: A special package is a set of financial benefits and projects given to a state to help its development.
Infrastructure Projects -: Infrastructure projects are large construction projects like roads, bridges, and power plants that help improve a state’s facilities and services.
Expressways -: Expressways are wide, high-speed roads designed for fast travel between cities.
Power Plant -: A power plant is a facility that generates electricity for homes and businesses.
JDU MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh -: Rajiv Ranjan Singh is a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Janata Dal (United) party, which is also known as JDU. He supports the special aid for Bihar.
Growth Rate -: Growth rate refers to how fast the economy of a state or country is growing. It is usually measured by the increase in goods and services produced.
Andhra Pradesh -: Andhra Pradesh is another state in India, located in the southeastern part of the country. It also received special financial support in the Union Budget 2024-25.
Union Budget 2024-25 -: The Union Budget is the annual financial statement presented by the Finance Minister, detailing the government’s revenue and expenditure for the upcoming year. The 2024-25 budget includes special aid for states like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
