Mukhyamantri Samekit Chaur Vikas Yojana (Bihar)
Turns unused, waterlogged chaur land into fish ponds — 50% subsidy on construction for general farmers, 70% for EBC/SC/ST, with three ready-made pond layouts to choose from.
Run by: Directorate of Fisheries, Animal & Fisheries Resources Department, Government of Bihar
- General category
- 50% subsidy
- EBC/SC/ST category
- 70% subsidy
- Entrepreneurs/firms
- 40% subsidy
- Land unit
- Per hectare of chaur
- Pond layouts
- 3 notified models
- Coverage so far
- 1,933 ha across 22 districts
- FY2025-26 budget
- ₹29.72 crore
Overview
Bihar has large stretches of private chaur — low-lying land that floods every monsoon and sits unused the rest of the year because it is too wet to farm and too shallow to fish commercially. Mukhyamantri Samekit Chaur Vikas Yojana, run by the Directorate of Fisheries, pays farmers to convert that dead land into fish ponds instead of leaving it idle.
The scheme offers three notified layouts for developing one hectare of chaur: two ponds, four ponds, or a single pond combined with land development for horticulture. Whichever layout is chosen, general-category farmers get 50% of the construction cost as subsidy, while Extremely Backward Class, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe farmers get a higher 70% rate. Entrepreneurs and larger fish-farming firms can also apply, at a 40% subsidy rate, to take chaur development beyond individual smallholdings.
Applications, tracking and approval run through the fisheries department's own online portal rather than paper files at the block office, and the subsidy is released against the verified, sanctioned pond model — not a self-built structure the farmer puts up before approval.
The three layouts carry their own notified project costs per hectare: about ₹7.32 lakh for the two-pond model, ₹8.88 lakh for the four-pond model, and ₹9.60 lakh for the single-pond-with-land-development model — the subsidy percentage for your category is applied against whichever of these the sanctioned model works out to, not against whatever you actually spend. The scheme runs under Bihar's "Seven Resolves-2" (Saat Nishchay-2) governance programme and the state's Fourth Agriculture Roadmap (2023–28); the Animal and Fisheries Resources Department most recently invited applications with a 24 June 2025 notification and an application deadline of 31 August 2025 for that funding cycle, carrying a ₹29.72 crore budget for FY2025-26. According to Bihar's own Economic Survey, chaur development under this route has brought over 1,933 hectares under fish-based production across 22 districts to date.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- Converts unused, waterlogged chaur land into fish ponds, turning idle land into an income-generating asset.
- 50% subsidy for general-category farmers on pond construction and land development, rising to 70% for EBC, SC and ST farmers.
- Three ready-made layouts per hectare — two ponds, four ponds, or one pond with land development — so a farmer does not have to design a plan from scratch.
- Entrepreneurs and fish-farming firms can also apply, at a 40% subsidy rate, for larger-scale chaur-based aquaculture.
- Application, tracking and approval run online through the fisheries department portal instead of physical paperwork.
Who is eligible
State schemes usually state their criteria as prose rather than a checklist. This is that prose, unpacked — the department’s verification is what decides.
You qualify if
- Owns or holds legal rights to chaur (low-lying, waterlogged) land in Bihar suitable for pond conversion
- Registered on the Directorate of Fisheries online portal before applying
- Individual farmer, farmer group, or registered fish-farming entrepreneur/firm
- Willing to develop the land under one of the three notified pond models
Not covered
- Land under active regular cultivation that is not genuinely unused/waterlogged chaur
- Applications without clear land ownership or lease proof
- Ponds already built before sanction, or built outside the approved model
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Aadhaar card
- Land ownership or lease document for the chaur plot
- Caste certificate (for the 70% EBC/SC/ST subsidy rate)
- Registration certificate, audited accounts and GST details (for entrepreneur/firm applicants)
- Passport-size photographs
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Register on the fisheries portal
Create a login on the Directorate of Fisheries' online application portal and enter your chaur land details before applying.
- 2
Pick a pond model and apply
Choose one of the three notified layouts — two ponds, four ponds, or one pond with land development — and submit the application with land and category documents.
- 3
Sanction, construction, subsidy release
Once the department sanctions the plot, the pond is built to the approved model and inspected; the subsidy is released to the registered bank account against the verified cost.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- For a stuck application, a disputed sanction, or a delayed subsidy release, first contact the Directorate of Fisheries helpline at 0612-2215175, or your District Fisheries Officer, who handles chaur applications for that district.
- If unresolved, escalate through Bihar Lok Shikayat, the state's public grievance redressal system — file online at lokshikayat.bihar.gov.in or call the toll-free 1800-345-6284. Complaints must legally be resolved within 60 working days, with a two-level appeal if not.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as "chaur" land for this scheme?
Low-lying, waterlogged or unused private land that isn't under regular cultivation — the kind that floods every monsoon and sits idle the rest of the year — is exactly what this scheme is meant to convert into fish ponds.
I'm from the general category — do I get less subsidy than an SC/ST farmer?
Yes. General-category farmers get 50% subsidy on the approved pond model; EBC, SC and ST farmers get a higher 70% rate on the same construction.
Can a group of farmers apply together for a bigger pond cluster?
Yes — farmer groups can apply, and registered entrepreneurs or firms can apply separately at a 40% subsidy rate for larger-scale chaur development.
How much does the subsidy actually work out to in rupees?
It depends on the layout: the notified project cost is about ₹7.32 lakh/hectare for two ponds, ₹8.88 lakh for four ponds, and ₹9.60 lakh for one pond with land development. Your category's percentage (40%, 50% or 70%) is applied to that notified cost, not to whatever you end up spending.
Is this a one-off scheme or does it run every year?
It runs as a recurring funding cycle under Bihar's broader Fourth Agriculture Roadmap (2023–28) and the "Seven Resolves-2" governance programme, with fresh application windows opened periodically — the department notified a fresh round with a 31 August 2025 deadline, so check the fisheries portal for the current window rather than assuming it is always open.
How much chaur land has actually been developed under this scheme so far?
Per Bihar's own Economic Survey, over 1,933 hectares have been brought under fish-based production across 22 districts through this route — so it is a scheme with a real, checkable track record, not just an announcement.
Facts checked against fisheries.bihar.gov.in on 8 September 2026. editorial policy.