Bihar: Nitish Kumar expands Cabinet with seven BJP MLAs, taking it to the maximum of 36
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expanded his Cabinet on 26 February 2025 with seven new ministers, all from the BJP, sworn in by Governor Arif Mohammad Khan at Raj Bhavan, Patna, taking it to the maximum permissible 36.
Summary
On 26 February 2025 Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan administered the oath to seven new ministers at Raj Bhavan, Patna, all MLAs of the BJP: Jibesh Kumar, Sanjay Saraogi, Sunil Kumar, Raju Kumar Singh, Moti Lal Prasad, Vijay Kumar Mandal and Krishna Kumar Mantu. The expansion took the council of ministers, including the Chief Minister, to 36, the maximum allowed for Bihar's 243-member Legislative Assembly. The BJP now has 21 ministers and the JD(U) 13. Earlier in the day state BJP president Dilip Jaiswal resigned as minister under his party's 'one person, one post' policy. Under Article 164(1A) of the Constitution, inserted by the 91st Amendment, the total number of ministers including the Chief Minister in a state cannot exceed 15% of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly.
Key facts
- Date
- 26 February 2025, Raj Bhavan, Patna
- Oath by
- Governor Arif Mohammad Khan
- New ministers
- 7, all BJP MLAs
- Council strength
- 36 (maximum)
- Assembly
- 243 members
- Party share
- BJP 21, JD(U) 13
- Constitutional cap
- Article 164(1A): 15% of Assembly strength
Practice MCQs 3 questions
After the expansion of 26 February 2025, the Bihar council of ministers, including the Chief Minister, reached its maximum permissible strength of:
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Correct answer: D — 36
With seven BJP MLAs sworn in, the Bihar council of ministers reached 36, the maximum allowed for the 243-member Assembly.
Who administered the oath of office to the seven new ministers of Bihar on 26 February 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Arif Mohammad Khan
Governor Arif Mohammad Khan administered the oath to the new ministers at Raj Bhavan, Patna.
Consider the following statements about Article 164(1A) of the Constitution: 1. It was inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment. 2. It caps the total number of ministers, including the Chief Minister, at 15% of the total members of the Legislative Assembly. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Article 164(1A) caps a state's council of ministers, including the Chief Minister, at 15% of the Assembly's total members, so the second statement is correct. It was inserted by the 91st Amendment Act, 2003, not the 42nd, so the first is wrong.