Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare on 20th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
On August 20, 2026, Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a comprehensive development package for Bihar focused on rural housing, agricultural security, and women's empowerment. Key highlights include the approval of 11.19 lakh pucca houses with a ₹13,427 crore allocation and the implementation of the PM Fasal Bima Yojana for crop protection. These initiatives aim to improve the quality of life for poor families and streamline the delivery of benefits through digital farmer identification.
Key Points / Main Content
Housing and Infrastructure
Approved 11,18,937 pucca houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) with a dedicated allocation of ₹13,427 crore.
Recorded a total of 24,30,327 houses approved for Bihar over the past two years, involving an expenditure of ₹29,164 crore.
Emphasized transparent, direct fund transfers to beneficiaries to ensure that every rupee reaches the intended destination.
Identified roads, houses, and agriculture as the three fundamental pillars for improving rural life and connecting villages to markets.
Agricultural Protection and Digitization
Announced the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in Bihar to provide insurance against crop losses caused by floods, droughts, and other natural calamities.
Reported the creation of 53.83 lakh Farmer Identity Cards to simplify beneficiary identification and accelerate the delivery of government services.
Committed to strengthening procurement systems and providing farmers with better access to technology to make agriculture more remunerative.
Women’s Economic Empowerment
Prioritized the "Lakhpati Didi" initiative to increase the incomes of rural women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Announced the establishment of "She-Marts" in every district to provide a marketplace for products made by Jeevika Didis and SHGs.
Pledged support for women entrepreneurs in areas of product development, packaging, and marketing to strengthen the rural economy.
National Identity and Culture
Asserted that "Vande Mataram" must be sung in its entirety as a matter of national pride and a duty for every citizen.
Impact Analysis
Poor Families in BiharImpact
Families will gain access to permanent housing, providing them with dignity, security, and protection from extreme weather conditions.
Action Required
Eligible families should ensure they are registered under the housing scheme to receive sanction letters and subsequent funding.
FarmersImpact
Farmers receive a safety net against natural disasters through crop insurance and will experience more efficient service delivery via digital IDs.
Action Required
Farmers are urged to register for Farmer Identity Cards and make timely use of the benefits available under the crop insurance scheme.
Women Entrepreneurs and SHGsImpact
Rural women will gain a dedicated platform to sell their products, leading to increased financial independence and social transformation for their families.
Action Required
Jeevika Didis and members of Self-Help Groups should prepare their products for sale through the upcoming district-level She-Marts.
Bihar State GovernmentImpact
The state government will see accelerated rural development through enhanced coordination and funding from the Central government.
Action Required
State officials must complete the registration of remaining farmers and oversee the timely execution of housing and road projects.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana: The central housing scheme under which 11.19 lakh pucca houses were approved for Bihar with an allocation of ₹13,427 crore.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: A crop insurance scheme announced for implementation in Bihar to provide farmers protection against crop losses from natural calamities.
Lakhpati Didi: A national initiative aimed at the economic empowerment of women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and market-linkage support like She-Marts.
Farmer Identity Cards: Digital identification cards created for farmers in Bihar to streamline the delivery of government schemes and improve transparency.
Bihar: The central state of applicability for the announced housing packages, agricultural schemes, and rural development initiatives.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
11.19 Lakh Pucca Houses Approved for Bihar
with ₹13,427 Crore Allocation, Giving New Hope
and Dignity to Poor Families: Shri Shivraj Singh
Chouhan
“Vande Mataram is a Matter of National Pride”: Shri Shivraj
Singh Chouhan Slams Congress Decision to Sing Only a Part
of the National Song
24.30 Lakh Houses Approved for Bihar in Two Years, ₹29,164
Crore Spent: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
PM Fasal Bima Yojana to Be Implemented in Bihar,
Strengthening Protection for Farmers Against Crop Loss: Shri
Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Shivraj Singh Chouhan Pushes Women’s Economic
Empowerment; She-Marts to Create Markets for Products
Made by Lakhpati Didis and SHGs
Bihar Makes Strong Progress in Farmer IDs with 53.83 Lakh
Farmer Identity Cards Created:Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
प्रव तथ: 20 AUG 2026 4:18PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shri: Shri Shivraj Singh
Chouhan today announced a major package of initiatives for Bihar at the state-level Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana program in Patna. He announced the approval of 11,18,937 pucca houses for poor families in the
state, along with an allocation of ₹13,427 crore. At the program, attended by Chief Minister Shri Samrat
Choudhary and senior ministers of the Bihar government, Shri Chouhan also made several important
announcements for the state’s farmers, women and rural population, in line with Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi’s vision of inclusive development.Vande Mataram is a Matter of National Pride:Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Launching a sharp political attack on the Congress party, Shri Chouhan said that the decision to sing only
a portion of Vande Mataram was an insult to the sentiments of the country and to the national song. He
said that Vande Mataram was not an issue belonging to any particular political party, but was a matter of
respect for Bharat Mata. The song had served as a source of inspiration during India’s freedom movement,
and singing it in its entirety was a duty of every Indian, he said. Shri Chouhan accused the Congress of
indulging in vote-bank politics and alleged that some political parties attempt to distort symbols associated
with India’s unity, culture and national identity for political gains. He made it clear that Vande Mataram
should be sung in its entirety and that there could be no compromise on an issue linked to national pride.
11.18 Lakh Pucca Houses Approved for Bihar
Announcing a major housing package for Bihar, Shri Chouhan said that 11,18,937 pucca houses had been
approved for poor families in the state. An allocation of ₹13,427 crore has also been made, and the
sanction letter was handed over to the Chief Minister. He said that the initiative was not merely about
constructing houses, but about providing dignity, security and a better quality of life to poor families. “A
pucca house is not a structure of brick and cement. It is a symbol of dignity and confidence for an entire
family,” Shri Chouhan said. He noted that a house protects families from the hardships of winter, summer,
rain and storms, and said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s commitment to ensuring a pucca
house for every poor family was now being realised on a large scale in Bihar.More Than 24 Lakh Houses Approved in Two Years
Taking stock of the progress made over the past two years, Shri Chouhan said that 24,30,327 houses had
already been approved for Bihar, involving a total expenditure of ₹29,164 crore. He said the figures
demonstrated that the government was not merely making announcements, but ensuring that development
reached beneficiaries on the ground. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, funds
under government schemes were being transferred to beneficiaries with greater transparency, he said.
Targeting previous governments, Shri Chouhan said that earlier the full amount meant for the poor did not
always reach them, whereas the present system ensured that every rupee reached its intended destination.
He emphasised that these benefits were the rightful entitlement of poor families and not an act of charity
or favour. He also credited better coordination between the Central and state governments for accelerating
implementation of the housing programme in Bihar.Crop Insurance to Provide Protection to Bihar’s Farmers
Shri Chouhan also highlighted the importance of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, which will now
be implemented in Bihar. He said the scheme would provide farmers protection against crop losses caused
by floods, drought, excessive rainfall and other natural calamities. In the event of crop damage, eligible
farmers would receive compensation, reducing the uncertainty associated with farming. Shri Chouhan said
farmers are the backbone of the country’s food security and that it is the government’s responsibility to
protect them against natural risks. Welcoming the Bihar government’s decision, he described the
implementation of crop insurance as an important and far-reaching step in the interest of farmers.
Strengthening Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods
The Union Agriculture Minister said agriculture in Bihar was not merely an economic activity but the
foundation of livelihoods for millions of families. He stressed that farmers should not be left completely
vulnerable to natural risks and said the Centre and the state government were working together to make
agriculture more remunerative and resilient. Along with crop insurance, procurement, support systems and
access to technology were also being strengthened, he said. “If the farmer is strong, the village will be
strong; and if the village is strong, Bihar will be strong,” Shri Chouhan said, emphasising that agricultural
policies must deliver tangible benefits on the ground. He urged farmers to understand their rights and
make timely use of the benefits available under the crop insurance scheme.
Focus on Creating More Lakhpati Didi
Shri Chouhan also placed strong emphasis on women’s economic empowerment. He said that lakhs of
women in Bihar were progressing through Self-Help Groups and that a large number of them had already
become Lakhpati Didi. He said increasing women’s incomes was a key priority of the government.
Through self-employment, group-based enterprises and access to banking and financial services, rural
women were emerging as entrepreneurs and creating new economic opportunities for themselves and theirfamilies. This transformation, he said, was not merely economic but also social. When women become
financially stronger, the economic and social condition of the entire family improves. He described the
Lakhpati Didi initiative as an important link between rural development and women’s empowerment.
District-Level Markets to Support Women Entrepreneurs
Shri Chouhan stressed that increasing production by women’s groups would not be enough unless their
products also received access to markets. He said efforts would be made to establish She-Marts in every
district, providing Jeevika Didi and women’s Self-Help Groups with platforms to sell their products. He
said rural women needed support not only in production but also in product development, packaging and
marketing. “Products made in villages can succeed only when there is a proper market for them,” he said.
He expressed confidence that such market-linkage initiatives would substantially increase women’s
incomes and strengthen their economic independence while giving a new direction to the rural economy.
Bihar Commended for Progress in Farmer IDs
The Union Minister also appreciated Bihar’s progress in creating Farmer IDs, stating that 53,83,000
farmer identity cards had already been created in the state. He said the Farmer ID would make it easier to
deliver government schemes directly and quickly to eligible farmers, while improving transparency and
simplifying beneficiary identification. Digital farmer identification, he said, would make government
services more effective and streamline the process from farmer registration to delivery of benefits. He
expressed confidence that the registration of the remaining farmers would also be completed soon.
Roads, Houses and Agriculture: Three Pillars of Rural Development
Shri Chouhan also highlighted the importance of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and rural
connectivity. He said roads, houses and agriculture were three fundamental requirements for improving
rural life. Better roads would connect villages with markets and services, pucca houses would provide
security to families, and stronger agriculture would help increase rural incomes. He said the Centre and
the Bihar government were working together to transform the state’s villages and ensure that Bihar moved
beyond its past developmental challenges and became an integral part of the country’s growth story. Shri
Chouhan also appreciated the efforts of the government led by Chief Minister Shri Samrat Choudhary and
said strong coordination between the Centre and the state was essential for Bihar’s progress. He reiterated
that the government was committed to taking Bihar forward on every front of development.A large number of women, beneficiaries, public representatives and officials attended the programme.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Agriculture Minister Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Rural
Development Minister Shri Shravan Kumar, Revenue and Reconstruction Minister Shri Vinod Kumar
Jaiswal, Cooperation Minister Shri Ramkripal Yadav, Minister Shri Sunil Kumar, Rural Works Minister
Smt. Savita Gupta, the Minister for Social Welfare and several other public representatives were also
present.
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