The Bihar government has extended the Student Credit Card Scheme for another five years, allowing students to continue accessing financial assistance for higher education until the financial year 2030-31. Under the scheme, eligible students will continue to receive education loans of up to Rs 4 lakh. The state government has also approved Rs 950 crore for the current financial year to provide education loans under the scheme.
So far, around 4.15 lakh students in Bihar have benefited from financial assistance under the Student Credit Card Scheme. The government has also introduced a new framework aimed at making the scheme more comprehensive, accessible and financially sustainable, while supporting students pursuing higher education.
Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme Extended Till 2030-31
The extension will ensure that students continue to receive financial support for higher education over the next five years. The government has approved Rs 950 crore for the current financial year under the scheme.
Students can continue to avail themselves of education loans up to Rs 4 lakh, subject to the eligibility conditions and other requirements prescribed under the scheme.
300 Private BEd Colleges To Become Multidisciplinary Institutions
The Bihar government has also approved a proposal to develop 300 standalone private BEd institutions as multidisciplinary degree colleges in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) guidelines.
The institutions will be able to introduce undergraduate programmes in arts, science, commerce and other disciplines, along with skill-based courses. However, they will have to meet prescribed norms and obtain approvals from the concerned universities, UGC, NCTE and the state government before introducing new programmes.
Admission To 50% Private ITI Seats Through Joint Entrance
The Cabinet has approved changes to the admission process for private industrial training institutes (ITIs) in Bihar. Under the new arrangement, 50% of the total sanctioned seats in private ITIs will be filled through the Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board, Patna.
The move is aimed at making ITI admissions more systematic and transparent and providing a common entrance-based mechanism for a significant portion of seats in private institutes.