Ask anyone in Bihar what the state needs to break out of its status as India’s poorest state, and they will give some variation of ‘padhai-dawai-kamai’: investments in education, health, and non-farm jobs. After two decades of Nitish Kumar’s government — of which 15 years were with the Bharatiya Janata Party — the state remains at the bottom of India’s health, education, and employment indices. Any serious vision for Bihar must focus on these aspects to improve both the social and physical capital of Biharis.
The INDIA bloc manifesto, released in Patna on Tuesday, does precisely that. The media has focused on the alleged “handouts” in the manifesto, and on its strong social justice orientation. And yes, there are certainly some cash subsidies and government spending, necessitated by the abject failure of the Modi and Nitish governments to bring prosperity to the bottom 50 per cent.
But the manifesto also contains a detailed, specific plan to improve health and education, and to create a conducive environment for investment. The plan is not like the vague proposals offered so far by the Jan Suraaj Party, or the vacuous slogans in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) manifesto — such as “New age economy ka yug” and “Paanch varshon mein badh-mukt Bihar”. These are not only an indictment of two decades of NDA rule but are also intended for social media and headlines rather than concrete policy.
Reviving a crumbling healthcare system
Consider healthcare. Bihar is in bad shape, with a shortage of 35,317 doctors in the public health system, amounting to 60 per cent of sanctioned posts. Shortages of nurses, lab technicians, and pharmacists are even more severe. Often, expired medicines are given at public health centres, prompting patients to spend large amounts out of their pockets on quality medicines. Bihar’s district hospitals are essentially referral hospitals, forcing patients to choose between expensive private hospitals and going to Patna for treatment at considerable cost.
If elected, INDIA has promised to implement the successful Rajasthan model of healthcare. The headliner is the Rs 25 lakh health insurance coverage, but behind this is a plan to upgrade public health infrastructure and simultaneously generate lakhs of jobs in healthcare. The following promises were arrived at after many consultations with healthcare professionals and advocacy groups:
– All types of medical tests and medicines will be provided free of cost in all government hospitals.
– ICU, surgery, gynecology, orthopedics, ENT, pediatrics, and other services — including multi-specialty and critical care facilities — will be ensured in every district hospital.
– The availability of doctors and nurses will be guaranteed in all government hospitals and health centres.
– Modern facilities for treatment and surgery in cancer, cardiology, neurology, nephrology, urology, pulmonology, and endocrinology will be provided in all medical colleges.
– Emergency ICUs will be established in every subdivisional hospital.
– Mobile clinic services will be started in all blocks.
There are huge gaps in education as well. Student enrollments have improved in recent years and the Bihar government recruited 1.2 lakh teachers when the Janata Dal (United) was in coalition with the INDIA parties. However, only around 5 per cent of Bihar’s schools conform to Right to Education standards, and thousands of schools still lack functional toilets, electricity, and drinking water. Only 2 per cent of Bihar’s schools are secondary schools, compared with 9.8 per cent nationally, severely limiting educational opportunities for students.
These promises were arrived at after consultations with parents, teachers, and civil society groups:
– Textbooks and uniforms will be provided to all children from the start of the academic session.
– The Right to Education Act will be strongly enforced; members of school management committees will be educated about their duties and provided with working spaces in every school.
– Women’s colleges will be established in every subdivision, and degree colleges will be opened in 136 blocks where none currently exist.
– Residential schools, modelled on Navodaya Vidyalayas, will be established in every subdivision.
– An education city will be developed to promote educational tourism and prevent migration.
– Consistent policies will be formulated for the transfer and posting of teachers, health workers, and other service personnel within a 70-km radius of their home district.
Also read: Bihar beyond Buddha and Mandal—why the 2025 polls are critical for Indian democracy
Law and order
The issue of ‘palayan’ — the mass migration of workers out of Bihar — is arguably foremost in the minds of Biharis and stems directly from the lack of private and public investment in the state. In every district, people will tell you how rice, paper, and jute mills were shut down over the years and never replaced by newer units. It is no secret that Bihar has significant potential in agro-industry, tourism, construction, and services. Yet one critical deterrent to investment remains — the poor state of law and order. Why would entrepreneurs invest if their property rights are at the mercy of rent-seekers and local strongmen?
This is why the INDIA manifesto proposes a fundamental reform of policing. The Supreme Court’s 2006 Prakash Singh judgment directed states to implement several police reforms. These included the establishment of institutions to ensure police autonomy, police boards to minimise corruption or favouritism in postings and promotions, and complaint authorities to engage with citizens. The Nitish Kumar government set up these bodies merely as a box-ticking exercise, without granting them real authority. Hence, the INDIA manifesto promises the following:
– In the first cabinet meeting, a decision will be made for mass recruitment to fill over 50 per cent vacancies in Bihar Police, i.e. 1.24 lakh posts.
– The Police Establishment Board will be strengthened and effectively operated so that transfers, postings, and promotions are based on merit rather than bias or corruption.
– Fixed tenure will be prescribed for SPs and SHOs, and they will be accountable for crime control, prevention, and maintaining law and order.
– The number of police patrol vehicles will be doubled within six months, including two- and four-wheeler vehicles, to act as a deterrent and build public trust.
– The State Security Commission will be empowered to keep police free from political influence.
– Within three months of government formation, district police chiefs and station officers will launch campaigns against illegal arms manufacturing factories and ensure speedy trials within six months.
– Police commissionerates will be established in Patna and other major cities to ensure effective urban policing.
– Special women police stations will be established in every subdivision to hear cases of harassment, trafficking, acid attack, and domestic violence.
– In cases of rape, the FIR and medical examination report will be provided immediately to the victim.
Also read: Palayan politics is playing out in Bihar. It’s redundant, ignores key economic truth
A clear blueprint
These ideas did not emerge in a vacuum. Many are the result of a months-long consultation led by the Bihar Congress Manifesto Committee, which visited most districts between April and June 2025 and interacted with a cross-section of people, including farmers, students, labourers, health professionals, trade unions, NGOs, and others. The insights gathered provided valuable input for the INDIA Manifesto Subcommittee, which convened in mid-June 2025. Contrary to media reports of discord within the alliance, the manifesto subcommittee — comprising members from all six (later seven) INDIA parties — worked smoothly and produced a consensus draft without difficulty.
It will take years of patient effort to bring Bihar back on track. An INDIA coalition government will absolutely need to invest significant resources in generating public employment, providing cash transfers, and fulfilling other promised subsidies for voters. Yet the INDIA manifesto offers a clear blueprint to revive Bihar’s prospects, beginning with improvements in health, education, and law and order, which are the foundation of organic growth and prosperity. On the other hand, the NDA manifesto resembles a showy coat of paint on an old structure — cosmetic repairs without addressing the giant cracks beneath.
Amitabh Dubey is a Congress member. He tweets @dubeyamitabh. Views are personal.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)