The Bihar government has announced a significant revision in the bond policy for NEET PG doctors, reducing the mandatory service period in state-run medical colleges from three years to two years. The decision, cleared in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, aims to provide relief to medical postgraduates in the state. Under the new policy, doctors who fail to complete the two-year service bond will now be required to repay only the bond amount, instead of the previous rule which included salary and stipend recovery during training. This change addresses long-standing concerns raised by resident doctors and medical associations, who had called the earlier rules harsh and impractical.
Additional Welfare Measures Announced
The cabinet also approved several other initiatives for students and state employees:
- Scholarships: Increased for school students from Classes 1 to 10.
- Classes 1 to 4: ₹1,200 per year (previously ₹600)
- Classes 7 to 10: ₹3,600 per year (previously ₹1,800)
- ANM Compensation: Urban ANM workers’ pay raised from ₹11,500 to ₹15,000 per month with a 5% annual increment.
- Employment: Creation of 6,162 new posts across various departments.
- Dearness Allowance: Increased for state employees from 55% to 58%.
- Education Loans: Interest-free loans up to ₹4 lakh for college students.
- Allowance for Unemployed Graduates: ₹1,000 per month for individuals aged 20–25 years for up to two years.
Officials highlighted that Bihar’s updated bond policy aligns more closely with other states that have already shortened compulsory service requirements for postgraduate medical doctors. This revision is expected to reduce disputes, simplify compliance, and provide better opportunities for NEET PG doctors while maintaining service commitments in government medical institutions.
