Mukhyamantri Niji Nalkup Yojana Bihar: Private Tube Well Subsidy & Apply Online
The Mukhyamantri Niji Nalkup Yojana is a highly targeted minor‑irrigation scheme spearheaded by the Minor Water Resources Department (लघु जल संसाधन विभाग), Government of Bihar. The core objective is to provide a massive 50% to 80% capital subsidy to farmers for installing private tube wells (निजी नलकूप) and motorized pumps on unirrigated agricultural land.
Applications are invited strictly online through the dedicated departmental portal and official mobile app. Because the state government operates this scheme in time‑bound phases, eligible farmers are strongly urged to apply well before the notified last date to secure their funding.
Scheme Overview at a Glance
| Feature | Official Details |
|---|---|
| Implementing Authority | Minor Water Resources Department, Govt. of Bihar |
| Scheme Name | Mukhyamantri Niji Nalkup Yojana (Private Tube Well Scheme) |
| Subsidy Range | 50% to 80% (Based on Social Category) |
| Target Land | Unirrigated Agricultural Land in Bihar |
| Eligible Boring Depth | 15 to 70 Meters (4–6 inch diameter) |
Key Benefits & Financial Assistance
Under this scheme, the financial subsidy is calculated separately for the tube well boring process and the purchase of the motor pump. The rates vary significantly based on the applicant’s social category to promote equity.
- General Category Farmers: Receive a 50% subsidy on eligible boring and pump costs.
- Backward / Extremely Backward Classes (BC/EBC): Receive a 70% subsidy.
- SC/ST Farmers: Receive the highest support at an 80% subsidy.
- Eligible Dimensions: The subsidy explicitly covers 4–6 inch diameter private tube wells with a drilling depth ranging from 15 to 70 meters.
Boring Subsidy Rates (Per Meter, 15–70 m)
| Item Description | General (50%) | BC / EBC (70%) | SC / ST (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boring per meter (15–70 m) | ₹600 | ₹840 | ₹960 |
Motor Pump Subsidy Rates (Per Motor)
| Motor Capacity | General (50%) | BC / EBC (70%) | SC / ST (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 HP | ₹10,000 | ₹14,000 | ₹16,000 |
| 3 HP | ₹12,500 | ₹17,500 | ₹20,000 |
| 5 HP | ₹15,000 | ₹21,000 | ₹24,000 |
Coverage and Impact: The scheme has generated massive traction. By mid‑2025, departmental data reported that 21,073 farmers had successfully benefited from this scheme, with approximately ₹119.38 crore in subsidies released directly to support agricultural irrigation.
Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria
The scheme is open to all categories of farmers across Bihar who own unirrigated land, with specifically tiered higher subsidies for marginalized BC/EBC and SC/ST categories.
- Farmer Status and Domicile: The applicant must be a practicing farmer and a permanent resident of Bihar.
- Land Ownership: The farmer must have legal ownership of agricultural land (or otherwise acceptable legal possession) where the private tube well is proposed to be installed. Land details including plot, khata, and area must be verifiable in the state’s digital land records.
- Social Category: The scheme actively covers General, BC/EBC, and SC/ST farmers. A valid caste certificate is mandatory to claim the higher 70% or 80% subsidy levels.
- One‑Time Benefit Condition: The subsidy is strictly allowed for only one private tube well per eligible landholding. Multiple claims on the same plot of land or by the same beneficiary are not permitted.
- Use for Irrigation Only: Under the broader “हर खेत तक सिंचाई का पानी” (Saat Nischay‑2) vision, the tube well and pump must be used exclusively for crop irrigation. Commercial water selling is strictly prohibited.
Mandatory Document Checklist
To successfully apply under the Mukhyamantri Niji Nalkup Yojana, farmers must keep high-quality scanned copies of the following documents ready for online upload and backend verification:
- Identity & Domicile: Aadhaar card of the farmer, and an additional ID (such as a Voter ID or PAN card) if requested.
- Land Documents: Formal land ownership proofs such as a Khatiyan, Khasra‑Khatauni, or a Land Possession Certificate (LPC) showing the exact plot where the tube well will be installed. These should match the records on the Bihar Bhumi Portal. The latest rent/land tax receipt (Lagaan) may also be required.
- Caste Certificate: A valid BC/EBC/SC/ST certificate issued by a competent authority via the RTPS Bihar Portal to claim the higher subsidy tiers.
- Bank Details: A bank passbook or cancelled cheque of the farmer’s active account. The subsidy is transferred directly to this account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
- Visuals & Contact: A recent passport‑size photograph and an active mobile number to receive OTPs and departmental communication.
- GST Details for Equipment: District advisories explicitly state that purchasing pipes and motor pumps with formal, GST‑linked bills is mandatory for final subsidy settlement. All relevant invoices must be safely retained.
Step‑by‑Step Application Process (Online)
To eliminate corruption and intermediaries, applications are submitted 100% online through the Minor Water Resources Department portal or the official Mukhyamantri Niji Nalkup Yojna Android App.
- Check Latest Notifications: Visit the official Minor Water Resources Department website (mwrd.bihar.gov.in) to verify the current application window and statutory last date.
- Open the “Apply Online” Portal: Navigate to the “मुख्यमंत्री निजी नलकूप योजना – आवेदन करें (How to Apply)” section. Alternatively, download the NIC‑developed official Android app from the Google Play Store.
- Farmer Registration: Click on “कृषक आवेदन करें” (Farmer Apply). Enter your name, full address, mobile number, and Aadhaar number. Verify your identity by submitting the OTP sent to your mobile.
- Enter Land and Category Details: Input precise geographic data including your district, block, panchayat, village, and land particulars (plot number, khata, total area). Select your social category and upload the corresponding caste certificate if claiming a higher subsidy.
- Choose Boring and Pump Specifications: Specify the planned tube well diameter (4–6 inches) and the proposed depth (15–70 meters). Indicate your desired motor pump capacity (2 HP, 3 HP, or 5 HP) based on your land’s irrigation requirements.
- Upload Documents: Upload the required scanned documents (Aadhaar, land records, caste certificate, bank passbook, photograph) adhering to the specified JPEG/PNG format and file size limits.
- Submit & Print Acknowledgement: Carefully review all entries. Submit the online application prior to the closing deadline and immediately print or download the acknowledgement/application number for future tracking.
- Scrutiny and Field Verification: Departmental staff will cross-verify land records and eligibility. They may conduct a physical field inspection to confirm site suitability and undisputed land ownership.
- Sanction and Implementation: Approved farmers receive official sanction letters, which can be downloaded from the portal. Farmers must then execute the boring and pump installation as per scheme norms, ensuring they collect GST-compliant bills.
- Subsidy Release via DBT: Following physical verification of the completed installation and uploaded documentation, the department releases the subsidy directly to the farmer’s bank account via DBT based on their approved category rates.
Crucial Notice: Because this is a strictly time‑bound scheme, if the current notice states that applications are open until a specific date (e.g., 31 January or 15 June), farmers must apply immediately. Multiple official sources emphasize that late submissions are automatically rejected.
The Policy Intent
The Mukhyamantri Niji Nalkup Yojana forms a critical pillar of the state’s Saat Nischay‑2 (“हर खेत तक सिंचाई का पानी”) mandate. It is aimed at extending highly reliable, decentralized irrigation to every farm in Bihar, especially in regions where traditional canal command infrastructure is weak, distant, or entirely nonexistent.
By heavily subsidizing private tube wells and motorized pumps (absorbing up to 80% of the capital cost for SC/ST farmers), the state effectively shares the crushing upfront financial burden. This actively encourages small and marginal farmers to create permanent on‑farm irrigation sources, rather than relying on erratic monsoon rains, erratic canal schedules, or excessively costly diesel pump rentals.
Furthermore, the scheme embeds a strong social equity angle by legally allocating higher subsidy percentages to BC/EBC and SC/ST farmers, demographics that typically own smaller, more economically vulnerable landholdings. Combined with dedicated agricultural power initiatives, this program is structurally designed to drastically increase cropping intensity, mitigate drought risks, and ultimately raise net agricultural incomes across rural Bihar.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the last date to apply online under the Mukhyamantri Niji Nalkup Yojana?
Application windows are officially notified for each phase. For example, a recent 2025–26 cycle established 31 January 2025 as the strict closing date. Farmers must continuously monitor the latest notices on the Minor Water Resources Department website or the official app for the current active deadline.
Q2. How much subsidy can a farmer receive on tube well boring and a motor pump?
Subsidy tiers depend strictly on the applicant’s social category. Farmers receive 50% (General), 70% (BC/EBC), or 80% (SC/ST) subsidies on eligible boring and motor pump costs. This translates to direct financial support ranging from ₹600 to ₹960 per meter of boring, and ₹10,000 to ₹24,000 per motor (2–5 HP).
Q3. Can a farmer apply offline for this scheme via a local office?
No. Departmental guides and official instructions mandate that applications are accepted exclusively through the online portal or the official mobile app of the Minor Water Resources Department. All documents must be uploaded digitally.
Q4. Is the subsidy money given before or after installing the tube well?
The subsidy is disbursed after installation. The standardized process dictates: Online Application → Departmental Sanction → Farmer Installation as per norms → Verification & Submission of GST Bills → DBT Subsidy Release. This ensures the capital is only released after confirming actual physical installation and proper documentation.