In a smart move ahead of the Assembly Elections which are due later this year, the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government has eased the 75 per cent compulsory attendance norm for students to avail benefits of uniform and bicycle schemes.
Bihar Education Minister Sunil Kumar made this announcement in the Legislative Council, with approval from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the state cabinet.
A similar calculated move was taken in 2020 ahead of the Assembly polls in the state. The 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election for all 243 constituencies is scheduled to be held later this year.
Announcement by Bihar Education Minister
Bihar Education Minister Sunil Kumar announced in the state Legislative Council, “From the academic session 2025-26, attendance of 75 per cent will no longer be mandatory to avail benefits of uniform and bicycle schemes. Students can now receive these benefits at the beginning of the academic session.”
Also, in a relief for students during the scorching heat, the Education Minister stated that there will be no extra classes during summer vacations.
Approximately 2.5 crore students from Class 1 to Class 12 benefit from the uniform scheme, while around 17 lakh students of Class 9 get bicycles.
Under the previous policy, only students who attended school regularly and recorded 75 percent attendance were considered eligible for the financial assistance. But the new policy makes government school students enrolled— an estimated 1.8 crore per year— to be eligible for these benefits, regardless of their attendance.
How much school students get under Uniform Scheme:
– Classes 1 & 2: Rs 600 per student
– Classes 3 to 5: Rs 700 per student
– Classes 6 to 8: Rs 1,000 per student
– Class 9 to 12: Rs 1,500 per student
How much school students get under Cycle Scheme:
– Class 9 students: Rs 3,500
Direct Fund Transfer to Students’ Bank Accounts
Trying to make the disbursement of financial aid smoother and faster, the Bihar government will directly transfer money to students’ bank accounts under the cycle and uniform schemes.
The state government is also prioritising the upgradation of school infrastructure. The Education minister further announced that around 29,000 schools will have computers for Class 6-8 students.
CM Nitish Kumar using Education as Electoral Tool: Opposition
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) accused the BJP-Janata Dal (United) government, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, of using education as an electoral tool.
RJD national spokesperson Subodh Kumar Mehta said, “The state government initially implemented the 75 per cent attendance norm to improve enrollment and education quality. However, it now views students as a means to appease their families and garner votes.”
