PATNA: After granting 35 per cent reservation to women candidates, who are native residents of Bihar, in all direct recruitment processes across the state, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday announced that this reservation will also extend to contractual and outsourced positions, ensuring that native women benefit from this policy irrespective of the employment model.
Reiterating his commitment to women’s empowerment and fostering their active and positive participation in society, the chief minister said this reservation will be applicable, with immediate effect, to all levels and types of government posts under every category and service in the state.
In a message posted on ‘X’, he said: “Currently, the recruitment process is underway for 1,51,579 vacant government positions across Bihar. The newly-introduced reservation policy will be applicable throughout this recruitment drive, including across various phases of selection. Importantly, it will also extend to contractual and outsourced positions, ensuring that native women benefit from this policy irrespective of the employment model.”
“All government departments have been instructed to expedite the process of filling existing vacancies so that the state’s youth – especially women – can benefit from the opportunities,” he added.
The directive marks a crucial step toward ensuring greater representation and active participation of women and youth in public service.
In a major pre-election announcement, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also declared a steep hike in social security pensions for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and widowed women. The monthly pension has been increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100, benefiting over 1.09 crore residents of Bihar.
Agencies