Patna: The state cabinet has approved govt’s proposal to set up two new universities, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar University (RSDU) in Begusarai and Mata Sita Mahila University (MSMU) in Patna.
The twin proposals, moved by education department, were cleared under the Bihar Special University Act, 2026. The cabinet also sanctioned Rs15 crore each for the establishment and other expenses of the two universities, cabinet secretariat department additional chief secretary Arvind Kumar Choudhary said.
The jurisdiction of RSDU will cover constituent and affiliated colleges in Begusarai and Khagaria districts, excluding those affiliated to Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University, Darbhanga. MSMU will have jurisdiction over all constituent and affiliated women’s colleges in Patna district, except those affiliated to Patna University.
In another decision, the cabinet approved govt’s proposal to grant remission in the prison terms of convicted inmates based on their conduct and performance during their jail terms.
District-level committees headed by the respective district magistrates will select the inmates eligible for remission. The govt will announce their names on Oct 2, coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.
As part of Centre’s police modernisation programme, the cabinet sanctioned Rs24.50 crore for purchasing 50 drones for crowd control and management, anti-crime operations in Maoist-affected districts and riverine areas, and disaster management. It also sanctioned Rs33.68 crore for purchasing equipment and devices for district police, railway police, Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP), prohibition and drugs control bureau, and the security apparatus at Lok Bhavan.
The cabinet also approved a proposal to increase the salaries and allowances of chairpersons, vice-chairpersons and other office-bearers of boards and corporations enjoying the status of cabinet, state or deputy ministers.
Their monthly salary has been increased from Rs25,000 to Rs65,000 and daily allowance from Rs1,000 to Rs 3,500. The guest allowance of those enjoying cabinet minister status has been raised from Rs18,000 to Rs30,000 a month, while that of those with state minister status has been increased from Rs17,500 to Rs29,500. For those enjoying parity with deputy ministers, the allowance has been raised from Rs17,000 to Rs28,000.
The cabinet also approved the installation of C-DAC systems in 12 medical institutions in the state to facilitate patient registration and digitisation of various medical treatment processes.
It approved the proposal to set up Bihar Water Resources Development Corporation Ltd for professionalising development activities in water resources department under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
The cabinet sanctioned Rs757.63 crore to Bihar State Power Holding Company Ltd for 2026-27 to clear, in five instalments, the dues of former Bihar State Electricity Board employees up to Oct 31, 2012.
It also sanctioned Rs486.56 crore for four schemes of dairy, fisheries and animal resources department.
The cabinet approved urban development and housing department’s proposal to name the subway between the Multi-Modal Hub and Patna Junction as the “Acharya Kishore Kunal Subway”.
