Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Bihar ahead of the assembly elections combined a sharp political critique with significant infrastructure announcements. Modi targeted RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav and Congress, accusing them of neglecting and exploiting marginalized communities during their rule. Simultaneously, he underscored the NDA government’s efforts in combating Maoist insurgency and terrorism. Against this backdrop, Modi inaugurated development projects worth over ₹48,520 crore, emphasizing Bihar’s growth trajectory.

In a political climate as volatile as Bihar’s, personal narratives often intertwine with public personas. Tej Pratap Yadav, the eldest son of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, recently found himself in the eye of a media storm following a viral social media post professing a long-standing relationship with a woman named Anushka Yadav. The post, which briefly appeared on his verified Facebook page, was later disowned by Yadav, who claimed his account had been hacked.

On May 24, 2025, former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav publicly claimed that his Facebook account had been compromised after an unauthorized post surfaced, falsely asserting a long-term romantic relationship with a woman named Anushka Yadav. The elder son of RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav condemned the incident as a deliberate attempt to malign his reputation and that of his family. While the viral post has since been removed, the episode sparked significant public scrutiny, especially given Mr. Yadav’s previous high-profile marital issues.

In a significant enforcement action aimed at recouping public funds, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will auction 30 properties belonging to the Rose Valley Group on June 27, with a total reserve price set at Rs 409.02 crore. The assets, spread across multiple states including West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, include hotels, resorts, flats, and land parcels. This initiative follows a 2015 Calcutta High Court directive and is part of SEBI’s broader crackdown on illicit collective investment schemes.

Bandhan Bank, a prominent private sector lender, has announced the opening of 16 new branches in India, spanning five states. This expansion marks a significant step towards enhancing the bank's presence, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas. The new branches are strategically located in Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, as part of the bank's ongoing commitment to sustainable growth and broadening its customer reach.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to review the progress of the "One State-One Regional Rural Bank" (RRB) initiative on May 6. This consolidation effort, which will reduce the number of RRBs from 43 to 28, aims to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs. Starting May 1, 15 RRBs across 11 states will be merged into single entities, including in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and several other states.

Bihar is undergoing a strategic transformation, positioning itself as an emerging industrial hub in India. Catalyzed by Rs 1.81 lakh crore in proposed investments at the Bihar Business Connect 2024 summit, the state is gearing up to establish specialized industrial zones tailored to regional strengths—ranging from agriculture to handicrafts and pharmaceuticals. Under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership, the government is implementing a results-driven framework to convert investment intent into operational reality.