Not that the strike rate of welfare schemes needs to prove its efficacy again, but the Bihar elections have once again demonstrated that these freebies are a sure-shot guarantee of victory.

The Mukhyamantri Rozgar Yojna, launched in September 2025 in the run-up to the Bihar assembly elections, became the centrepiece of the NDA’s campaign. Under the scheme, ₹ 10,000 were transferred to the bank accounts of 75 lakh women initially. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar later claimed that 1.41 crore women had received the benefit.

Under the scheme, one woman from every family were to ₹ 10,000 to start her own business or generate a source of income. Beneficiaries who can show that they have put the money to productive use and begun building something of their own within a few months would go on t

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