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| Government of Bihar | |
|---|---|
| Name | State Government of Bihar |
| Established | 1912 (as Province of Bihar and Orissa), 1950 (as Indian state) |
| Capital | Patna |
| Chief minister | Nitish Kumar |
| Governor | Rajendra Arlekar |
| Legislative body | Bihar Legislative Assembly and Bihar Legislative Council |
| High court | Patna High Court |
| Judiciary head | Dinesh Kumar Singh |
| Area km2 | 94163 |
| Population | 104099452 (2011 census) |
Government of Bihar The state administration in Bihar functions under the constitutional framework of the Constitution of India and operates from the capital, Patna. The polity comprises an executive led by the Chief Minister of Bihar, a bicameral legislature with the Bihar Legislative Assembly and Bihar Legislative Council, and a judiciary headed by the Patna High Court. The state's governance interacts with central institutions such as the President of India, Parliament of India, and the Ministry of Home Affairs (India).
Bihar's institutions derive authority from the Constitution of India including provisions on federalism, the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, and the Article 356 of the Constitution of India for emergency powers. The office of the Governor of Bihar embodies the President of India's representative role as envisaged by the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court of India precedents like S.R. Bommai v. Union of India. Fundamental aspects such as the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Civil Procedure Code shape law-and-order responsibilities while statutes like the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000 have altered territorial administration.
The executive comprises the Governor of Bihar as the nominal head and the Chief Minister of Bihar as the real executive, supported by the Bihar Cabinet of ministers drawn from the legislature. Administrative authority is exercised through departments such as Bihar State Police, Bihar Public Service Commission, Bihar Finance Department, and sectoral ministries modelled on central ministries like the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (India). Key executive actors include officials from the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service, posted as divisional commissioners, district magistrates, and superintendents of police across districts including Patna district, Gaya district, and Darbhanga district.
Bihar's bicameral legislature consists of the Bihar Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and the Bihar Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad). The Assembly's electoral processes follow the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and are administered by the Election Commission of India with polling infrastructure coordinated with entities like the State Election Commission. Prominent political parties represented have included the Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, and regional formations such as the Lok Janshakti Party. Legislative functions reference debates and enactments related to statutes like the Bihar Land Reforms Act and budgetary measures presented by the Finance Minister of Bihar.
The Patna High Court is the apex judicial forum in the state, supervising subordinate courts including district courts in Nalanda district, Muzaffarpur district, and Bhagalpur district. High Court decisions interact with precedents from the Supreme Court of India and deal with constitutional petitions, criminal appeals under the Code of Criminal Procedure, and service matters involving bodies such as the Bihar Public Service Commission. Judicial appointments involve processes under the Collegium system and the President of India's formal assent. Specialized tribunals and quasi-judicial bodies include the Bihar State Tax Tribunal and administrative tribunals for service disputes.
Bihar is divided into administrative units: divisions, districts, subdivisions, blocks, and panchayats. The state contains divisions like Patna division, Magadh division, and Purnia division and 38 districts including Saran district and Supaul district. Local governance is framed by the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution of India and the 74th Amendment of the Constitution of India, with institutions such as Zila Parishad, Panchayat Samiti, and Gram Panchayat managing rural affairs while Municipal Corporations—notably the Patna Municipal Corporation—oversee urban services. Devolution of functions aligns with central schemes like MGNREGA and state initiatives for rural development and urban development.
Bihar's fiscal architecture follows frameworks such as the Finance Commission (India) recommendations, the Goods and Services Tax regime, and budgetary rules under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act. Revenue sources include state taxes, central transfers, and schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and National Health Mission. Fiscal priorities have targeted sectors including agriculture, infrastructure, education, and health, with flagship programs implemented by departments like the Bihar School Examination Board and agencies such as the Bihar State Health Society. Financial scrutiny is exercised by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Bihar Legislative Council's Committee on Estimates.
Electoral politics in Bihar feature contests for the Bihar Legislative Assembly, representation in the Lok Sabha, and seats in the Rajya Sabha. The Election Commission of India supervises state elections, with notable electoral events like the 2005 assembly elections and the 2020 assembly elections shaping alliances among Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Bharatiya Janata Party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and other parties. Key political personalities linked to Bihar's trajectory include Karpoori Thakur, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar, Rabri Devi, and George Fernandes. Issues such as land policy, law-and-order, development projects, and welfare schemes drive voter alignments and coalition dynamics at state and national levels.