35% reservation for women restricted to permanent residents of the State |In a significant policy shift ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, the Bihar Cabinet has decided to restrict the 35% reservation for women in government jobs exclusively to permanent residents of the state. The move comes amid escalating public pressure and political promises around implementing a broader domicile policy.
Announcing the decision on Tuesday, Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat) S Siddhartha said, “The cabinet approved an important proposal of the General Administration Department, allowing the 35 per cent quota for women in government jobs to be restricted only for permanent residents of Bihar. The new policy will enhance financial independence and job security for permanent resident women of the state.”
Introduced in 2016, the 35% quota for women in government jobs was previously open to women across India. The new restriction, however, marks a significant policy change, especially with elections just months away.
Domicile Debate Heats Up Before Bihar Polls
The move comes at a time when the demand for a comprehensive domicile policy has gained momentum. Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav has pledged a “100 per cent domicile” policy if the RJD is voted to power in the upcoming elections. Echoing the sentiment, Union Minister and BJP ally Chirag Paswan also advocated for a domicile policy, while questioning the RJD’s track record on the issue.
ALSO READ: Bihar polls in focus: Nitish Kumar hikes social security pension to ₹1,100
Public support for the policy shift has also intensified, with large-scale demonstrations by job aspirants in Patna last week. Dilip Kumar, one of the protest leaders, praised the latest decision but urged further action: “Now, the government must introduce a domicile policy to ensure 90 per cent representation of the state’s youth in government jobs.”
The restriction of the women’s quota is widely seen as a step toward meeting this rising demand and securing electoral support from the local population.
