India

Bihar CM Urges Affluent to Forego 125-Unit Free Electricity Amid Fiscal Concerns

By Amit Bhelari

On Sunday, November 2, 2026, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary appealed to the state’s well‑off and taxpayers to voluntarily give up the 125 free units of electricity that the government provides to every household. He said the move would help finance development projects, including strengthening the education system. Choudhary cited the state’s annual electricity subsidy of ₹8,000‑₹10,000 per family, amounting to ₹23,000 crore, and compared it to Uttar Pradesh’s subsidy of about ₹6,000 crore for a population nearly twice that of Bihar.

The free electricity is part of the Mukhyamantri Vidhyut Upbhokta Sahayata Yojna (MVUSY). Choudhary also referenced other schemes launched before the assembly elections, such as the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana, which transferred ₹10,000 each to the bank accounts of 1.81 million women by February 2026, and the Student Credit Card scheme that provides up to ₹4 lakh to students in higher education, totaling ₹18,000 crore annually.

Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav has criticised the NDA government, claiming it is “on the verge of bankruptcy” and that the state faces severe financial loss due to scams, corruption, revenue loss, a widening fiscal deficit and mounting debt. He has alleged that the treasury lacks funds to pay employee salaries, student scholarships, pensions and farmer dues.

Residents of Patna expressed concern. Sumitesh Kumar, 42, said the middle class and salaried people already pay taxes and questioned why they should give up free electricity, suggesting the CM should first reduce perks for lawmakers and ministers. Nalin Kumar, 48, warned that the government might end the free electricity or raise prices after the 125 units to cover revenue losses.

Energy Department data shows that per‑capita electricity consumption rose from 75 units in 2005 to 401 units in 2026. Bihar provides the 125 free units to its 1.92 crore domestic consumers and is promoting rooftop solar panels, which have increased four‑fold in the current year.

Similar appeals have been made in other states. Maharashtra’s Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, launched before the assembly elections, initially covered 2.43 crore women but was reduced to about 1.66 crore after verification. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also urged affluent people to surrender 125 free units, with himself setting an example.

RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed accused the Bihar government of using free schemes to exploit voters for electoral gains and warned that the NDA‑BJP government now intends to burden the public.

Published – November 3, 2026 03:38 am IST