Bihar CM appeals for voluntary surrender of free electricity benefits
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary asked affluent taxpayers to forgo 125 units of free electricity to fund state development.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has appealed to financially well-off taxpayers in Bihar to voluntarily give up the benefit of 125 units of free electricity. Speaking at the Pataliputra National Youth Parliament 2.0 in Patna on Sunday, November 2, 2026, Choudhary said the funds saved could be used to strengthen the state's education system, according to The Hindu.
The Chief Minister stated that the state government spends between ₹8,000 and ₹10,000 per family annually in electricity subsidies, totalling ₹23,000 crore per year. He noted that the state provides 125 units of free electricity to 1.92 crore domestic consumers under the Mukhyamantri Vidhyut Upbhokta Sahayata Yojna (MVUSY).
Choudhary compared Bihar's expenditure to Uttar Pradesh, noting that while Uttar Pradesh has nearly double the population of Bihar, its electricity subsidy expenditure is around ₹6,000 crore. He also mentioned that the government provides up to ₹4 lakh in financial assistance annually through the Student Credit Card scheme, costing ₹18,000 crore.
Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has criticised the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, alleging the state is facing extreme financial loss due to corruption and a widening fiscal deficit. RJD state spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed claimed the appeal proves that free schemes were a ploy to exploit people for votes.
Residents in Patna expressed concerns regarding the appeal. Sumitesh Kumar, a resident of Boring Canal Road, suggested that lawmakers and ministers should first reduce their own perks and allowances before asking the common man to forgo benefits.