For two decades, Nitish Kumar has been at the helm of Bihar’s governance, shaping the state’s policies, economy, and infrastructure. From his ascent to power in 2005 to his current tenure, he has been hailed as a reformist by his supporters and criticized by his detractors. While his initial years saw improvements in governance and law and order, his prolonged rule has also exposed deep-seated issues that remain unresolved. This insightful article evaluates his tenure based on employment, literacy, industrial progress, and social indicators to determine whether his leadership has genuinely transformed Bihar or merely kept it afloat.
Unemployment in Bihar: A Never-Ending Crisis
Bihar has long struggled with high unemployment rates, and Nitish Kumar’s government has failed to reverse this trend significantly. While India’s overall unemployment rate has improved in recent years, Bihar remains one of the worst-performing states. The state’s unemployment rate in urban areas stood at 10.2% in 2023, while rural unemployment was around 7.8%, significantly above the national average. The problem is exacerbated by the state’s weak industrial base, lack of large-scale private investment, and dependence on government jobs, which have not been created at the required pace.
Despite the state government's announcements of creating lakhs of jobs, the numbers paint a grim picture. As per government data, out of the 12 lakh jobs promised under 'Saat Nischay Part-2,' only 5.16 lakh jobs had been provided by 2024. Even these were mostly low-paying government positions, with little impact on Bihar’s broader employment landscape. The lack of private-sector jobs means that a significant portion of Bihar’s youth continues to migrate to other states in search of work, a trend that has remained unchanged under Nitish Kumar’s rule.
Education and Literacy: Growth on Paper, But Little on the Ground
One of the most glaring failures of Nitish Kumar’s tenure is in education. The literacy rate in Bihar has improved, rising from 47% in 2001 to 63.8% in 2011, but this is still the lowest among all Indian states. Despite various schemes to promote education, Bihar’s literacy rate in 2024 is estimated to be around 71%, far behind the national average of 77.7%. The primary education system is plagued by poor infrastructure, underqualified teachers, and an outdated curriculum.
The much-publicized Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana, aimed at encouraging girls’ education, saw some success in reducing dropout rates. However, the larger problem remains—thousands of schools across Bihar function without proper facilities, and teacher absenteeism is rampant. The state’s higher education scenario is even worse, with underfunded universities, poor research opportunities, and an exodus of students to other states for quality education. The lack of investment in skill-based education has also left Bihar’s youth ill-equipped for modern job markets.
Industrial Progress: Stagnation Despite Grand Announcements
Industrial development has been one of Nitish Kumar’s biggest failures. Despite multiple investment summits and policy revisions, Bihar remains an industrially backward state. Between 2005 and 2024, the state government approved investment proposals worth ₹75,293 crore, but the actual realization of these investments has been abysmal. In 2023-24, only ₹5,642 crore worth of new investments were registered, creating a mere 31,749 jobs—a number insufficient to meet Bihar’s massive labor force.
Compared to industrial hubs like Gujarat, Maharashtra, or even neighboring Jharkhand, Bihar’s industrial policies have failed to attract major corporations. The biggest impediments include poor infrastructure, unreliable electricity, bureaucratic red tape, and lack of investor confidence due to political instability. The sugar industry, once a major employer in Bihar, continues to decline despite promises of revival. The much-hyped ethanol production policy has also not yielded the expected results, with only a handful of operational ethanol plants.
Infrastructure: Progress, But Not Enough
Nitish Kumar’s government has made some progress in infrastructure, particularly in roads and connectivity. Between 2005 and 2022, the length of paved roads in Bihar nearly doubled, and several bridges were constructed to improve connectivity. However, Bihar still lags in urban infrastructure, power supply, and public transport.
Bihar’s electricity availability has improved in urban areas, but rural electrification remains inconsistent. Frequent power cuts continue to plague households and industries, making the state unattractive for investors. The much-hyped Ganga Driveway and Patna Metro projects remain incomplete or delayed, reflecting the government’s inefficiency in executing large-scale infrastructure projects.
Agriculture: A Sector of Lost Potential
Agriculture remains Bihar’s backbone, employing over 70% of the population. However, despite claims of agricultural development, Bihar’s farmers remain among the poorest in India. While rice and maize production have increased, the lack of cold storage facilities, supply chain inefficiencies, and absence of food processing industries have limited the benefits to farmers. The failure to implement large-scale irrigation projects has also left agriculture highly dependent on monsoons.
Social Indicators: Has Bihar Really Improved?
While Nitish Kumar initially focused on improving governance and reducing crime, law and order have deteriorated in recent years. Crime rates have surged, with incidents of corruption, political violence, and caste-based clashes becoming more frequent. Despite early efforts to curb corruption, Bihar still ranks among the worst states in terms of governance efficiency.
Poverty reduction has also been slow. Between 2005 and 2022, the poverty rate fell from 55.7% to around 34%, but Bihar still has one of the highest poverty rates in India. The failure to create sustainable livelihoods has kept large sections of the population dependent on government schemes rather than self-sufficiency.
Is Nitish Kumar’s Model a Success or Failure?
Nitish Kumar’s tenure has been a tale of missed opportunities. While he made initial strides in law and order, roads, and governance, his later years have been marked by stagnation, policy failures, and political flip-flops. The state continues to suffer from chronic unemployment, lack of industrial growth, and an education system that fails its youth. Infrastructure improvements, while visible, have not been enough to make Bihar competitive with other states.
With 20 years in power, Nitish Kumar has had ample time to transform Bihar, yet the state remains one of India’s most underdeveloped. His governance has often focused on short-term electoral gains rather than long-term structural reforms. The fundamental problems that plagued Bihar in 2005—unemployment, migration, poor education, and lack of industry—remain largely unresolved in 2025.
Bihar stands at a crossroads. The question is no longer whether Nitish Kumar deserves another chance, but whether the state can afford another term of stagnation. If development is the ultimate benchmark, his 20-year report card is far from impressive. Bihar needs bold leadership and a fresh vision to break free from its cycle of underdevelopment.