Significance

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s demands at the pre-Budget meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hold significant importance as they highlight the financial needs and developmental requirements of the state of Bihar. By presenting these demands, Mr. Choudhary aims to address crucial areas such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and more, which are essential for the overall progress and prosperity of Bihar.

Features

During the meeting, Mr. Choudhary emphasized the growth performance of Bihar and highlighted the need for additional financial assistance for the state to sustain its growth momentum. He proposed various measures such as enhancing the borrowing limit, implementing ‘one nation, one tariff’ in the energy sector, expanding air connectivity, constructing metro rail in major cities, establishing government medical colleges, and increasing funds for various schemes and programs.

Objectives

The main objectives of Mr. Choudhary’s demands are to ensure adequate financial support for the development of Bihar, improve infrastructure and services in key sectors, boost economic growth, create employment opportunities, enhance educational and healthcare facilities, and overall, uplift the standard of living for the people of Bihar.

Effects

If implemented, these demands have the potential to significantly impact Bihar’s overall development and progress. Enhanced financial assistance, improved infrastructure, better healthcare and education facilities, increased agricultural support, and other proposed measures can contribute to the socio-economic advancement of the state and benefit its residents in various ways.

Pros and Cons

While the demands put forth by Mr. Choudhary are aimed at addressing the developmental needs of Bihar, there may be challenges in terms of allocation of funds, implementation of proposed projects, and ensuring the efficient utilization of resources. However, the potential benefits of these measures outweigh any possible drawbacks, as they have the capacity to bring about positive change and growth in Bihar.

Fun Fact

Despite facing challenges, Bihar has shown remarkable growth and progress in comparison to other states, as highlighted by Mr. Choudhary during the meeting. This underscores the resilience and potential of Bihar to further prosper with the right support and investments.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What additional financial assistance did Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary demand during the pre-Budget meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman?
   A. An increase in the borrowing limit by 2%
   B. An additional package for Bihar
   C. Implementation of GST across the country
   D. Allocation of funds for new railway projects

Explanation: Mr. Choudhary demanded an additional package for Bihar to sustain the growth momentum and meet the State’s developmental needs.

1. Which States did Mr. Choudhary compare Bihar’s growth performance to in his meeting with Nirmala Sitharaman?
   A. Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and West Bengal
   B. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Gujarat
   C. Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Punjab
   D. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha

Explanation: Mr. Choudhary compared Bihar’s growth performance to developed States like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Gujarat, where Bihar recorded higher growth.

1. What was Mr. Choudhary’s proposal regarding the construction of metro rail in Bihar?
   A. To build metro rail in all districts of Bihar
   B. To focus on building metro rail in the four big cities
   C. To prioritize building metro rail in rural areas
   D. To establish metro rail for inter-state connectivity

Explanation: Mr. Choudhary proposed the construction of metro rail in the four big cities of Bihar – Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, and Bhagalpur to meet the increasing population and traffic demand.

1. What additional funds did Mr. Choudhary request for the salary of teachers under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)?
   A. ₹12,500 crore
   B. ₹17,686.25 crore
   C. ₹5,000 crore
   D. ₹20,000 crore

Explanation: Mr. Choudhary requested additional funds of ₹17,686.25 crore for the salary of teachers under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

1. Which sector did Mr. Choudhary express concern about and demand the implementation of ‘one nation, one tariff’?
   A. Education
   B. Energy
   C. Agriculture
   D. Healthcare

Explanation: Mr. Choudhary expressed concern about the energy sector and demanded the implementation of ‘one nation, one tariff’ across the country.

Brief Summary | UPSC – IAS

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary called for additional assistance and a special package for Bihar during a pre-Budget meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi. Choudhary highlighted Bihar’s impressive growth compared to other States and requested further financial aid to sustain this momentum. He urged for an increase in the borrowing limit, the implementation of ‘one nation, one tariff’ for energy, the construction of new airports, and the expansion of metro rail and medical colleges in the State. Additionally, Choudhary emphasized the need for increased funds for programs such as PMGSY, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, and NFSM. He also sought support for resolving pending dues related to MGNREGA. Overall, Choudhary advocated for increased financial support from the Central government to facilitate Bihar’s development initiatives.