PATNA, July 22 -- Bihar assembly on Tuesday passed the Bihar Gambling (Prohibition) Bill, 2026, under which all kinds of gambling, including those conducted online, electronic, computer or mobile applications in the state would be banned, said people aware of the matter, adding there were also provisions for stringent punishment for publishing and broadcasting gambling-related content. Along with gambling houses, online gambling, betting, its operation and promotion will also come under the category of crime. It also has a provision of one to three years jail and a fine of Rs.50,000 to Rs.5 lakh for first time offenders. In case of repeat offence, the maximum punishment will be seven years in jail and a fine of Rs.1 lakh to Rs.10 lakh. If a person voluntarily makes his bank account, mobile app, digital wallet or other digital account available for gambling or earns profit from it, he will face a jail term of up to six months and a fine of up to Rs.10,000. Cheating in the name of 'game of luck' will also come under the radar. Printing or publishing gambling-related information will be punishable with a maximum of five years in jail and a fine of up to Rs.5 lakh. At the same time, there is a provision of imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs.50,000 for advertising gambling. Under the provisions, any police officer in the rank of sub-inspector or above, can search or arrest any person found gambling or abetting gambling at any public place. The police will seize cash from the accused, and bank accounts, wallet accounts will also be frozen. In a related development education minister Mithilesh Tiwari on Tuesday told the assembly that the government would send a requisition this month to Bihar Public Service Commission ( BPSC) for another round of recruitment of teachers in primary, middle, secondary and higher secondary schools under TRE (Teacher Recruitment Examination). Meanwhile, CM Samrat Choudhary announced in the State Legislative Council that the government would consider giving the responsibility of maintenance of the tap water scheme to the ward councillors in panchayat bodies. P3...