Patna: The state cabinet on Thursday cleared a series of incentive-related proposals, including subsidies for multinational corporations and Indian companies setting up global capability centres (GCCs) in Bihar, as well as investors establishing semiconductor manufacturing units in the state.The cabinet also approved detailed guidelines proposed by the general administration department banning govt employees from posting provocative content on social media related to the workplace, govt policies and other sensitive matters. Violations will invite punitive action, general administration department additional chief secretary B Rajender said after the meeting.Overall, the cabinet cleared 32 proposals, including matters linked to the legislature, whose budget session is scheduled to begin on Feb 2 and conclude on Feb 28, cabinet secretariat department additional chief secretary Arvind Chaudhary said.He added that the cabinet also approved a proposal under the Mahila Rojgar Yojana to provide Rs 2 lakh to women beneficiaries who had earlier received Rs 10,000 to start small businesses or trade activities. “So far, 1.56 crore women have been paid Rs 10,000 each. The additional Rs 2 lakh will be released after an assessment of the economic activities undertaken by them,” he said.Industries department secretary Kundan Kumar said the state has announced multiple subsidies for investors setting up GCCs. “The subsidy will be linked to capital expenditure, capped at Rs 50 crore,” he said, adding that incentives have also been provided in line with employee salary structures, with higher subsidies for employees holding Bihari domicile.He said rental subsidies have been included, along with “attractive” incentives for research and development activities. Explaining the capital expenditure support, he said, “The subsidy will be 30% of the capex, subject to a maximum of Rs 50 crore.”On semiconductor manufacturing units, Kumar said subsidies from the Centre and the state would be dovetailed. “The central govt pays 50% subsidy on the capex. The state govt will pay 60% of the subsidy amount that the Centre provides to the company concerned,” he said, noting that such units require investments of Rs 10,000 crore or more.Similar to GCCs, semiconductor units will also be eligible for rental subsidies and salary-linked incentives, with higher benefits for local recruitment in line with the domicile policy. He said comparable incentives would apply to electronic component manufacturing units as well.“I would say that our subsidy provisions are better than those offered by any other state in the country. There is immense scope for such investments, and we appeal to investors to make the most of the opportunities available in Bihar,” Kumar said. “This will also open up new avenues for absorbing talented youths from the state,” he added.
