With the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for October–November 2025, political parties are targeting women voters, who constitute nearly half of the state's 7.64 crore electorate. Women recorded a higher turnout rate of 59.4% in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, compared to 53% for men, underlining their electoral importance.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal has announced the Mai-Behan Maan Yojana, which proposes monthly transfers of ₹2,500 to women aged 18–60. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government has increased social security pensions from ₹400 to ₹1,100 and introduced 35% job reservations for women.
However, women voters in Bihar have expressed scepticism towards such schemes. Sita Kumari from Sultanpur village notes that political parties announce such measures during elections but do not create employment opportunities. Women are seeking jobs and education for their children rather than short-term financial assistance.
Similar cash transfer schemes have seen electoral success in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhi, where women’s voting patterns shifted. In Bihar, however, women appear more focused on long-term support and question the limited political representation despite commitments to 33% reservation in legislatures and Parliament.
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