Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi
The Government of India and Bihar have taken a major step to empower rural women entrepreneurs. On 2nd September 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited via video conferencing. The event saw the transfer of Rs. 105 crore into the institution’s bank account. This initiative aims to provide affordable and timely financial support to women associated with Jeevika self-help groups in Bihar. It promises to reduce dependence on costly microfinance loans and promote community-led enterprises.
Purpose of Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi
The Jeevika Nidhi is created to offer easy access to funds at lower interest rates. It targets members of registered cluster-level federations linked to Jeevika. Women entrepreneurs often face high interest rates from microfinance institutions, ranging between 18% and 24%. This new institution aims to provide larger loans at affordable rates, ensuring financial inclusion and sustainability for rural women-led businesses.
Funding and Digital Operations
Both the Bihar state government and the central government contribute funds to the Jeevika Nidhi. The system works on a fully digital platform to ensure quick and transparent fund transfers. Direct payments go into the bank accounts of Jeevika Didis, eliminating delays and intermediaries. To support this, 12,000 community cadres are being equipped with tablets for efficient digital operations and monitoring.
Impact on Women Entrepreneurship
The initiative is expected to strengthen entrepreneurship among approximately 20 lakh women across Bihar. Over the years, Jeevika’s self-help groups have nurtured many small enterprises and producer companies in rural areas. The Jeevika Nidhi will accelerate this growth by providing timely and affordable credit. It will reduce women’s reliance on exploitative lenders and encourage sustainable business development.
Related National Initiatives
On the same day, Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated ‘Semicon India – 2025’ in New Delhi. This three-day event focuses on building a strong semiconductor ecosystem in India. It includes discussions on semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging projects, and investment opportunities. The conference attracted over 20,750 participants from 48 countries, aiming to position India as a global hub for semiconductor technology.
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