Image Credit: X account @NitishKumar
CM Nitish Kumar Promises Free Power Up to 125 Units Ahead of Bihar Polls
In a key pre-poll announcement, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has declared that all domestic households in the state will receive 125 units of free electricity per month, starting 1 August 2025. The move is expected to benefit around 1.67 crore families and comes just months ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections due later this year.
Scheme Details and Rollout
The scheme will apply to every household, regardless of income level, and the subsidy will be reflected in power bills issued from July. The first 125 units consumed each month will be free, with charges applying only beyond that threshold.
Nitish Kumar described the decision as part of the government’s commitment to reduce the financial burden on ordinary citizens and improve rural and urban living standards.
Solar Power Push Under Kutir Jyoti
Alongside the subsidy, the state government announced an expansion of the Kutir Jyoti Yojana, under which poor families will get solar panels installed free of cost. The initiative also supports rooftop solar systems for non-poor households, with an overall target of generating 10,000 MW of solar power over the next three years.
Political Significance
The electricity promise is among several welfare schemes rolled out recently by the Nitish-led government, including teacher recruitment and caste-based job quotas. Political analysts see the free power announcement as a key voter pitch aimed at strengthening the JD(U) alliance ahead of a high-stakes election.
While critics have labelled the move as populist, it has been widely welcomed by rural and middle-class voters who expect significant savings on monthly electricity bills.
