Bihar relaxes 75% attendance norm for uniform and bicycle schemes in schools for second time in a row in poll year

Bihar Education Minister Sunil Kumar announced in the Bihar Legislative Council, “From the academic session 2025-26, attendance of 75 per cent will no longer be mandatory to avail benefits of uniform and bicycle schemes. Students can now receive these benefits at the beginning of the academic session.”

Previously, these benefits were granted based on attendance by September 30. Students in different classes receive varying amounts: Class 1-2 students get Rs 600, Class 3-5 students receive Rs 700, Class 6-8 students get Rs 1,000, and Class 9-12 students receive Rs 1,500 annually. Class 9 students also receive Rs 3,500 to buy a bicycle.

The minister further announced that there will be no extra classes during summer vacations. Additionally, around 29,000 schools will have computers for Class 6-8 students.

The state government has allocated Rs 60,000 crore for education, prioritising it as a top concern. In contrast, the state allocated Rs 4,000 crore for education in 2005-06. Bihar has around 74,500 schools with an enrolment of approximately 2 crore students.

RJD national spokesperson Subodh Kumar Mehta said, “The state government initially implemented the 75 per cent attendance norm to improve enrollment and education quality. However, it now views students as a means to appease their families and garner votes.”

Mehta, a Delhi University professor, added, “The Nitish (Kumar) government is catering to big industries by supplying labour, leading to significant migration in Bihar over the past 20 years. Relaxing the 75 per cent attendance norm reflects the government’s non-serious approach to education.”

While JD(U) leaders declined to comment, BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma said, “Not everything should be viewed through an electoral lens. We must assess whether the 75 per cent mandatory attendance norm is effective. It might be a coincidence that the relaxation was considered in an election year.”