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With the Bihar Assembly elections just weeks away, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition-led Mahagathbandhan have rolled out detailed manifestos outlining competing visions for the state’s future. Both have promised sweeping welfare reforms, large-scale employment generation and targeted support for women, farmers and marginalised groups. While the NDA’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ emphasises development, infrastructure and empowerment of backward classes, the Mahagathbandhan’s ‘Bihar Ka Tejashwi Pran’ focuses on guaranteed jobs, education reforms and direct financial support for families. Both documents reflect a clear strategy - to appeal to the youth and women voters who together form a decisive bloc in Bihar’s electoral landscape.

Employment generation has emerged as the central theme of both manifestos. The NDA has pledged to create one crore government jobs and convert district-level ‘Mega Skill Centres’ into ‘Global Skilling Centres’ to boost employability.

On the other hand, Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav has promised at least one government job per household, to be implemented within 20 days of forming the government. The alliance has also vowed to regularise contractual and outsourced employees - a move aimed at consolidating the support of Bihar’s vast informal workforce.

Infrastructure development remains a key differentiator between the two blocs. The NDA promises seven expressways, metro projects in four cities, and modernisation of 3,600 km of railway lines. It has also proposed international airports in Patna, Darbhanga, Purnea and Bhagalpur, alongside expansion of Amrit Bharat Express and Namo Rapid Rail services.

The Mahagathbandhan has countered with a plan to build five expressways, establish a Special Economic Zone, and set up clusters for small and medium industries. Its focus is on creating industrial jobs and improving logistics to attract investment - a sector Bihar has long struggled to develop.

Women’s empowerment occupies a prominent place in both manifestos. The NDA’s flagship proposal aims to create one crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and provide up to Rs 2 lakh under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rojgaar Yojana. It also proposes a Mission Crorepati scheme to promote women entrepreneurs.

The INDIA bloc’s ‘Mai-Behin Maan Yojana’ promises Rs 2,500 per month to women starting December 1, with Rs 30,000 annual assistance for the next five years. It also commits to regularising the ‘Jeevika Didis’ as state employees, offering a salary of Rs 30,000 per month and interest-free loans.

The NDA’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ proposes free education from “KG to PG” for economically weaker students, residential schools for Scheduled Caste children and Rs 2,000 financial aid for higher education.

The Mahagathbandhan has promised to build a 2,000-acre “educational city” and ensure free applications for competitive exams. It also aims to establish women’s colleges in every subdivision and degree colleges in 136 blocks - an ambitious plan to bridge the gender gap in education.

Agriculture remains at the heart of Bihar’s economy, and both sides have outlined major promises for farmers. The NDA’s manifesto mentions a Rs 1 lakh crore investment in agri-infrastructure, increased aid for fishermen, and enhanced benefits under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

The Mahagathbandhan has promised to revive the Mandi system and reinstate the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act. It also plans to ensure procurement of all crops at the minimum support price and provide 200 units of free electricity to every household.

The Mahagathbandhan’s manifesto includes raising reservations for the Most Backward Classes in local bodies from 20 per cent to 30 per cent, and for Scheduled Castes from 16 per cent to 20 per cent. It also aims to increase quotas for Scheduled Tribes proportionally.

The NDA, meanwhile, has proposed Rs 10 lakh in financial aid for certain occupational groups among the Extremely Backward Classes and plans to form a high-level committee under a retired Supreme Court judge to address their concerns.

In a major welfare push, the Mahagathbandhan has promised free health insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh per person under the ‘Jan Swasthya Suraksha Yojana’. The NDA’s focus, by contrast, is on strengthening healthcare infrastructure through modern facilities and expanding access to rural health services.

Ankit Kumar is a Senior Sub Editor at Zee Business. He covers international affairs, politics, climate change, business, finance and global elections. With experience acros