State

Patna: As Bihar heads into the final phase of its Assembly elections on November 11, one crucial issue seems to have quietly slipped out of political conversations — unemployment. The ruling alliance proudly claims that the state’s unemployment rate has dropped sharply — from 8% in 2017–18 to just 3% in 2023–24. But a closer look reveals a more complicated truth: the fall in numbers doesn’t necessarily mean more real jobs. According to government data, youth unemployment also followed a similar trend — it declined from 31% in 2018–19 to 4.3% in 2022–23, but has since risen again to nearly 16%. So why, despite a statistical decline in unemployment, does Bihar still not feel the improvement on the ground? A Decline That’s Not a Relief At first glance, the figures appear encouraging....

? Patna: As Bihar heads into the final phase of the 2025 Assembly elections, both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan face the twin challenge of retaining their traditional bastions and expanding their influence in new territories. This round is particularly crucial for the smaller allies in both camps who demonstrated bargaining power during ticket distribution — but now must prove their ground strength at the ballot box. NDA’s Allies Under Pressure For the NDA, Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is contesting 15 out of 28 allotted seats (one nomination was cancelled), while Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) is contesting all six seats allocated to it. Both leaders are seen as the Dalit faces of the NDA. Additionally, Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha...