Bihar CM Sets Target of 1 Crore Employment Opportunities, Pushes State-Made Products in Govt Procurement

Addressing an orientation programme for beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna, Choudhary said the government was working to expand the role of local entrepreneurs and small businesses in Bihar's economy.

During the programme, the government also released the first or subsequent instalments of financial assistance to around 7,000 beneficiaries.

Choudhary said the state has introduced a purchase-preference mechanism under which products manufactured in Bihar and meeting prescribed quality standards will receive priority in government procurement. The move is aimed at encouraging entrepreneurs to establish manufacturing units within the state instead of producing goods elsewhere and selling them in Bihar.

He said the government wants entrepreneurs to manufacture products such as bicycles and other goods within Bihar so that public procurement can help create a market for local industries.

The Chief Minister also said the government would procure a share of eligible products manufactured by industries established in the state. Recent reports have indicated that the assured share could be 25 per cent for products meeting the prescribed standards.

Choudhary further highlighted measures intended to give Bihar-based entrepreneurs greater opportunities in government contracts. He said that for government tenders worth up to Rs 50 crore, a local entrepreneur ranked L2, L3 or L4 could be considered for the contract if willing to execute the work at the L1 rate.

The government is currently preparing around 45,000 new entrepreneurs through its entrepreneurship initiatives, while about 7,000 beneficiaries received their first or subsequent instalments during Thursday's programme. Around Rs 3,500 crore has been earmarked for the initiative, according to the government.

Under the Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana, eligible beneficiaries can receive financial assistance of up to Rs 10 lakh to establish enterprises. The assistance includes up to Rs 5 lakh as a grant or subsidy and up to Rs 5 lakh as a loan, depending on the applicable category and scheme conditions.

The scheme covers beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Extremely Backward Classes, women, youth and minority communities, with separate components listed on the official Udyami portal.

Choudhary said entrepreneurship and the expansion of micro, small and medium enterprises would be central to the government's strategy to generate employment within Bihar. He said the state aims to reduce migration driven by limited livelihood opportunities by creating more enterprises and jobs locally.

The government has set a broader target of providing government jobs and employment opportunities to one crore people by 2030. Choudhary said that if around 44,000 entrepreneurs each create employment for an average of five people, the programme could generate approximately 2.2 lakh direct jobs. The number could increase as more entrepreneurs are brought under the initiative.

The Chief Minister also encouraged entrepreneurs to register their products on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and participate in public procurement. The government expects greater participation in government purchasing to provide Bihar-based manufacturers with a more stable market while encouraging investment and production within the state.

Choudhary said the broader objective was to strengthen Bihar's industrial base, promote entrepreneurship and expand employment opportunities by supporting local manufacturing and MSMEs.