Bihar assembly passes three more bills

Bihar Engineering University Bill, 2021 proposes to bring all the government and private engineering colleges in the state under one umbrella, with the chief minister as the chancellor

Bihar assembly has passed three more bills on Wednesday.

A view of final preparation of Bihar legislative assembly in Patna, on the eve of the monsoon session on Sunday, July 25. (HT file)

Bihar Engineering University Bill, 2021 proposes to bring all the government and private engineering colleges in the state under one umbrella, with the chief minister as the chancellor.

Bihar deputy chief minister Tarkishore Prasad, who also holds the finance portfolio, moved the Bihar Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) (amendment) Bill, 2021 for amendments in fiscal targets for 2021-22, as recommended by the 15th Finance Commission and the government of India.

“Bihar has been able to maintain fiscal management since 2006, when the legislation was first made, and avoided overdraft, which was last taken in 2004...Since 2020, the entire country is grappling with Covid-19 pandemic and the impact has been intense. Bihar has also been affected by it, but still maintained fiscal discipline,” said Prasad.

RJD’s Lalit Yadav said, “In 2005, per capita loan in Bihar was a mere ₹5,000, but it has now gone up to ₹1.35 lakh. For a poor state, it is not good.”

The third bill passed was the Bihar goods and services tax (amendment) Bill, 2021 which amends the Bihar goods and services tax (amendment) Act, 2017 in line with the amendment in the Central GST Act, 2017 through the Finance Act, 2021, which came into effect from July 1, 2021.