Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government has approved the ‘Saat Nishchay-3’ programme for 2025-30, pitching it as the next five-year roadmap to shift Bihar into the league of developed states. The plan focuses on “double employment, double income” as well as agriculture, education, healthcare and infrastructure pushes. It gives priority to nearly 94 lakh poor families identified in the caste-based survey to provide job opportunities and support.
What is Saat Nishchay‑3?
The Cabinet, chaired by Nitish Kumar, approved the third edition of the flagship ‘Saat Nishchay’ (seven resolutions) initiative on December 16, 2025, after earlier phases of the scheme were rolled out during 2015-20 and 2020-25. Later, the CM wrote on X that the CM said the Saat Nishchay-3 will be implemented from 2025-2030 and is designed as a continuation of the “development with justice” model that guided the previous two versions.
The CM’s outline said the new package has seven broad thrust areas: double employment, double income, prosperous industries and a “empowered Bihar”, agricultural progress, quality education for a bright future, accessible healthcare for a secure life, a strong foundation for modern expansion and ease of living with dignity for all citizens. The pillars are designed to link welfare schemes with long-term economic growth, especially in rural and semi-urban areas which have historically fallen behind national averages.
Focus on jobs, incomes and poor households
Addressing reporters, Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat) Arvind Kumar Chaudhary said the Cabinet has explicitly decided to double average per‑capita income in Bihar by boosting both employment and earnings. The government will aim at around 94 lakh poor families identified in the state’s caste-based survey for this purpose and consider them the primary target group for new employment and livelihood programmes.
This focus is over and above the existing measures like the provision of Rs 10,000 to women across the state under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana and an additional promise of Rs 2 lakh to augment their economic security. If effectively implemented, the combined push on jobs, women-centric schemes and rural assets can narrow income gaps and reduce distress migration from Bihar significantly over the next five years, say officials.
Education, healthcare and “Centres of Excellence”
The Cabinet has approved proposals to convert some existing higher education institutions into “Centres of Excellence” in the education sector and to develop new education cities; The hubs are expected to attract better faculty, research collaboration and private investment, making the state a competitive destination for students within and outside Bihar.
On healthcare, Saat Nishchay-3 promises more accessible and reliable services so that residents can “secure life” through timely treatment and preventive care. The initial announcement did not mention specific projects for hospitals or clinics but officials have said that primary health infrastructure, diagnostic facilities and referral systems will be prioritised, especially in underserved districts.
Continuity with earlier ‘Saat Nishchay’ phases
The third phase of Saat Nishchay is based on the foundation of the first two phases, which were related to piped drinking water, toilets, roads, electricity, skills for youth and women empowerment, Nitish Kumar said. The new phase shifts the focus on income generation, industrial development and development of quality human capital while still foregrounding the “development with justice” for the marginalized. Read here for the full report.
With the ambitious target of doubling per-capita income in just five years, policy analysts will be watching the sequencing of projects, flow of funds and monitoring of outcomes closely. All claims for coverage compliant with EEAT must be based on official Cabinet briefings, quotes from the CM and ACS, and historical data of previous Saat Nishchay schemes, clearly distinguishing between announcements and results of on-ground implementation.
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