CM says students of today are the heroes and nation-builders of tomorrow
Patna, October 2026: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi inaugurated a state-level award distribution ceremony for painting and speech competitions organised by the Education Department under the Seva Hi Sankalp campaign at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna on Saturday.
The Chief Minister congratulated the winning students and extended his best wishes to them. He said Bihar secured first place in the country in the competition themed “My India of Dreams”, reflecting the enthusiastic participation and talent of students across the state.
Addressing the gathering, Choudhary said, “Students of today are the heroes and great personalities of tomorrow. They are the future of Bihar and the country.” He stressed that their dreams, ideas, talent and determination would play a crucial role in building a developed Bihar and a developed India. Encouraging students and providing them with opportunities to realise their potential, he said, was a shared responsibility.
Bihar's Educational Heritage
The Chief Minister described Bihar as a historic centre of knowledge, economic activity and democratic consciousness. He recalled the contributions of ancient Magadha and scholars such as Chanakya, as well as the legacy of renowned institutions like Nalanda and Vikramshila.
He said the Central and state governments were working together to restore Bihar's educational heritage. Choudhary thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for their efforts to revive Nalanda University, noting that Modi had accorded special importance to the institution's revival after assuming office for a third term in 2024.
He said India's ambition must extend beyond reclaiming its former image as the “Golden Bird” to becoming a strong nation capable of demonstrating its capabilities on the global stage.
Housing, Food Security and Welfare
Highlighting welfare initiatives, Choudhary said the government was working to improve the lives of poor and disadvantaged citizens, including children. He noted that Bihar had faced poverty, shortages and inadequate basic infrastructure for decades.
According to him, while approximately 42 lakh poor families in Bihar had received permanent houses by 2014, nearly 62 lakh additional families were provided houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana between 2014 and 2026. He also said nearly 10 crore people in the state were receiving free foodgrains under Central government schemes.
The Chief Minister emphasised that food, housing and essential facilities remained government priorities.
Digital Learning and Teacher Recruitment
Choudhary said around 700 model schools had been developed under the Saraswati Vidya Niketan initiative, with approximately 3.5 lakh students studying in these institutions.
The government has introduced the Vidyarthi Saathi app to facilitate online learning, including late-night study sessions and preparation for competitive examinations such as NEET and JEE. Around 1.42 lakh students reportedly study through the digital facility until 1 am, with the number rising to nearly 1.75 lakh on Saturdays and Sundays.
He said the figures demonstrated students' enthusiasm for learning and assured them that the government would improve educational facilities and guidance.
The Chief Minister also said approximately 33,000 teachers were being recruited through the TRE-4 process to strengthen staffing in government schools. He urged the Education Department to identify 100 outstanding teachers from schools and colleges and explore opportunities to send them to reputed institutions, including Oxford University, and other international educational centres for training. Their exposure to global teaching practices, he said, could help improve education standards in Bihar.
Strengthening Schools and Higher Education
Choudhary said the government was working to improve PM SHRI schools and aimed to strengthen their academic systems by March next year.
He acknowledged that many students from Bihar travelled to other states for higher education and said the government wanted to develop high-quality institutions within Bihar so that students would not have to leave the state to access better education.
In July 2026, educational arrangements were introduced at 211 locations for new degree colleges, expanding access to higher education. The government was also working to improve teacher availability and provide a better academic environment.
The Chief Minister said the state was exploring an open university system to offer students greater flexibility in pursuing education according to their needs. He also said efforts were being made to encourage educational institutions from other states to establish campuses in Bihar.
He highlighted the contribution of nearly seven lakh teachers, from primary schools to colleges, in educating Bihar's children. Of the state's population of around 14 crore, approximately two crore children were receiving education from the primary to undergraduate levels, he said, underlining the need to continually improve teaching quality and infrastructure.
Focus on Jobs and Local Opportunities
The Chief Minister said Bihar's earlier priorities had included extending electricity, roads, drinking water, food security and other basic facilities to people. Schemes providing school uniforms and bicycles had helped bring more children, particularly girls, into the education system.
He said the government now had two major objectives: expanding industries to generate employment locally and developing better schools, colleges and universities so that students would not have to depend on other states for quality education.
The government was working towards ensuring employment opportunities for Bihar's youth within the state before 2030, he said. It also aimed to reduce the compulsion for workers to migrate elsewhere in search of livelihoods.
Choudhary announced a new arrangement under which around one crore schoolchildren would receive uniforms stitched through Jeevika self-help groups. Instead of transferring money directly to parents, the government would arrange for uniforms to be stitched and supplied to children. The initiative is intended to ensure timely delivery while creating employment and income opportunities for Jeevika women.
Government Schools to Undergo Transformation
Under the Seva Sankalp and Kayakalp campaigns, the government has launched an initiative to improve government schools through painting, repairs, fixing damaged fans and upgrading essential facilities.
Choudhary said efforts were being made to improve the learning environment in every government school. After March, he said, visitors would be able to see a transformed picture of government schools across Bihar.
He added that Bihar's tradition of social awareness, knowledge and democratic movements had contributed significantly to the country's history. Recalling the movement led by Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan to defend democracy, he said the vision of a developed India could be realised only when Bihar's children became educated, self-reliant and prosperous.
The Chief Minister called on teachers, parents and members of the education community to work together to strengthen the state's education system.
Awards Presented to Eight Students
During the ceremony, the Chief Minister and the Union Education Minister honoured eight students who emerged as winners in the painting and speech competitions.
A video film based on the “My India of Dreams” campaign was also screened. The Education Department Secretary welcomed the Chief Minister by presenting him with a sapling, a traditional angavastram and a memento.
Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi congratulated Choudhary for organising the state-level competitions on a large scale and in a systematic manner under the Seva Hi Sankalp campaign.
Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari, senior officials from the Union Education Ministry, including Archana Sharma Awasthi and Dr Amarpreet Duggal, Chief Minister's Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, officials, teachers and a large number of students attended the programme.
The Chief Minister reiterated that investing in education, nurturing young talent and creating opportunities for employment and self-reliance were essential to achieving the goal of a developed Bihar.
