Health : The Government of Bihar is dedicated to providing accessible, quality healthcare while addressing the burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Key initiatives like the Bihar Health Reform Project and State Nutrition Mission have strengthened primary healthcare and improved maternal and child health. Immunization coverage rose from 32.8% in 2005 to 84% in 2021, and institutional deliveries increased from 19.9% to 76.2%. Life expectancy at birth improved from 65.8 years (2006-10) to 69.5 years (2016-20).

As per the report the multidimensional poverty in Bihar has significantly reduced from 55.9% (2015-16) to 33.8% (2019-21) due to programs including PM POSHAN. Child Sex Ratio for Bihar in 2001 was 942 and compared to All Inida 927 and 935 in 2011 as compared to All India 919. The state has reduced the rate of Stunting from 55.6 in 2005 to 42.9 in 2021, reduced wasting from 27.1 in 2005 to 22.9 in 2021 and underweight in children below 5 years from 55.9 to 41 in 2021.

Health expenditure has increased 11.6 times from 1015 Crores in 2005 to 11810 Crores in 2022-23 and current allocated budget for 2025-26 has increased to 23580 Crores; which shows the state government commitment in improving the health indicators and providing better infrastructure and facilities. There has been increase in government medical colleges from 6 in 2005 to 34 (22 construction under progress) government medical colleges till 2025. There is an increase in total health centres from 99 in 2017 to 122 in 2023 for per 10 lakh population. The number of patients in outpatient department per month has increased from 39 in 2006 to 11600 in 2025. Grade A Nurses in Bihar is 8.7 per 10 lakh population, ANM (auxiliary nurse) is 19.2 per 10 lakh population and beds per 10,000 population – 2.05.

Under Saat- Nischay , the work is already in progress to establish nursing colleges in every medical college hospitals as well as GNM schools in every district ; a para medical institute in every district and an ANM school in every subdivision are being established, construction of most of these has been completed. Dialysis centers are being run in identified health institutions such as district hospitals/medical colleges and hospitals in all 38 districts of the state under public private partnership. Free pathology and radiology facilities in all government health institutions are being implemented. Under Saat Nischay 3.0 , block community health centres will be developed into specialized medical centres and district hospitals will be developed into super-speciality hospitals.

Schemes like Bal Hriday Yojana and Ayushman Bharat expand access and affordability. Aligned with national goals, Bihar is progressing toward universal health coverage by integrating AYUSH, expanding telemedicine, ensuring quality accreditation, and adopting advanced digital health systems under the National Health Mission. These efforts underscore Bihar’s commitment to enhancing healthcare outcomes and improving the quality of life for its people.

Education: Bihar has made significant strides in education across all levels, achieving the highest literacy growth rate in India between 2001 and 2011. The overall literacy rate rose from 47.53% to 61.8%, with male literacy increasing from 60.32% to 71.2% and female literacy from 33.57% to 51.5%. Recent data from the 2022-23 Periodic Labour Force Survey reports Bihar’s literacy at 74.3%, with 82.3% for males and 66.1% for females. Higher education has expanded significantly, with new universities, technical institutes, and research centres established. Digital tools such as smart classrooms and ICT labs have improved access and quality. Higher education enrolment surged from 554,000 in 2004-05 to 2.36 million in 2020-21, and the Gross Enrolment Ratio doubled from 8.76 to 17. These advances highlight Bihar’s firm commitment to education as a pivotal driver of sustainable growth and socio-economic progress, aligning with India’s broader developmental goals. State is committed towards the implementation of NEP 2020 with state-specific adaptations.

In 11 years, the expenditure on education grew annually at the rate of 11.2%. The annual rate of growth of the revenue expenditure is 10.8% and that of capital expenditure is 21%. Schemes like Mukhya Mantri Kanya Utthan Yojana incentivize for girl child education and welfare, Mukhya- Mantri Balika Poshak Yojana benefitting 49.4 lakh students (Annual Schemes GoB 2022-23) and Benefiting 9.51 lakh students (Annual Schemes GoB 2022-23) as well as Mukhyamantri Balika / Balak Cycle Yojana to increase attendance and improve the mobility of students in higher classes. In 2022-23, Rs 285.27 crore has been distributed to 9.51 lakh students to purchase bicycles. Teachers in schools working in 2005 were 2,25,993, which has increased 161% to 5,91,457 by 2025. In 2005 Out of School Children were 12.5% which has reduced to less than 1% in 2025.Gender Parity Index has increased from 0.73 in 2005 to 1.06 in 2025 and PTR in 2005 was 65 which has reduced to 32 in 2025. The state has improved facilities in every school and developing one high school at every panchayat level. The number of classrooms in schools in Bihar has increased tremendously over the past two decades, strengthening the education system. In 2005, the state had a total of 1,43,543 classrooms. In 2025, this number increased to 3,80,498 classrooms. The student-classroom ratio which was 92:1 in 2005 has now become 35:1 after large scale construction of infrastructure.

Higher education -The higher education system in Bihar has experienced massive expansion in the recent period, with a resolve to establish several Universities, Technical Institutes, Research Institutions and Professional / Non-professional Colleges. Digital interventions like smart classrooms & ICT labs are improving the accessibility of higher education system and improving the quality outcome. Higher Education Enrolment grew from 5.54 lakh in 2004-05 to 23.61 lakh in 2020-21 and the GER in Higher Education has increased from 8.76 in 2004-05 to 17 in 2021.The Gender Parity Index grew from 0.33 in 2004-05 to 0.91 in 2020-21, which shows increased education of girls in higher education. Universities have increased from 33 in 2018-19 to 39 in 2023-24, colleges have increased from 892 in 2018-19 to 1197 in 2023-24. Engineering colleges including polytechnic and training centers has increased from 104 in 2018-19 to 184 in 2023-24. For the year 2024-25 there are 11 hubs and 33 spokes, focused on emerging fields such as drone technology, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things. In 2005, only 72 regular teachers (Principals, Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors) were working in the Government Engineering Colleges run by the department. A total of 3334 teaching posts were sanctioned by the department against which appointments have been made on 1831 posts till 2024-25. In 2005, only 84 regular teachers (Principals, Heads of Departments and Lecturers) were working in government polytechnic institutes run under the department. A total of 2245 teaching posts were sanctioned by the department against which appointments have been made on 1096 posts till 2024-25. The number of teachers appointed in government polytechnic institutes is almost 13 times more than in the year 2005.Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme (2016) has been launched to provide interest-free loans up to Rs. 4 lakhs for higher education. Saat Nischay Program – Part 1 & 2 (2016 & 2020) have been a flagship scheme of the government focusing on skill training, employment, and youth development. Library & Knowledge Centres are being expanded to promote digital education and self-learning. Under Saat Nischay, one engineering college and one polytechnic college per district has been established as well as establishing one-degree college per district decision has been taken. Key education policy decision to improve quality education has been envisaged through Bihar Shiksha Prashasan Samvarg Niyamavali 2025. Under Saat Nischay 3.0 , advancing education by boosting higher education with the formation of separate dedicated department. Prestigious education institutions will be developed as Centre of Excellence and building of a new Education City.