Bank accounts to be opened for children studying in government schools in Bihar

Instructions have been issued to ensure that every child has an individual or joint bank account in a government or nationalised bank | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Bihar Education Department on Thursday (November 5, 2026) has made it mandatory for the birth certificates of all children studying in government schools across the State to be maintained in school records. 

Along with this, instructions have been issued to ensure that every child has an individual or joint bank account in a government or nationalised bank.

Education Department’s Director (Administration) has sent a letter to all District Education Officers (DEOs) and District Programme Officers (DPOs) in this regard.

The letter states that the Central government has emphasised opening bank accounts for everyone in government banks under its financial inclusion initiative since 2014. A birth certificate is required for opening a bank account. 

It is also required for school admission. Keeping these requirements in mind, the Education Department has directed all government schools to maintain the birth certificates of every enrolled child in their official records.

The Department has instructed the headmasters of all the government schools to establish contact with the managers of nearby government or nationalised bank branches and ensure that bank accounts are opened for all children enrolled in their schools. Special priority will be given to children who are eligible to receive scholarship benefits.

A senior officer of the Education Department said that having bank accounts in children’s names will make it easier for the government to transfer funds under various schemes through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Meanwhile, headmasters have also been directed to contact the village panchayat Mukhiya in their respective areas to facilitate the issuance of birth certificates. In rural areas, birth certificates are issued by the Mukhiya or panchayat secretary, while in urban areas, the concerned municipal bodies issue birth certificates.

The Department has instructed the authorities concerned to complete both tasks through a special campaign by December 31, 2026.

Published - November 06, 2026 05:48 am IST