PATNA, July 22 -- The state 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. It 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, maximum punishment will be seven years in jail and a fine of Rs.1 lakh to Rs.10 lakh. If a person 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. As far as companies involved in betting or gambling are concerned, the company as well as every person in-charge of its business or responsible for it, would be considered guilty. "The Union home ministry has requested the states and Union territories to revoke the Public Gambling Act, 1867 and bring a new legislation to regulate public gambling in the current perspective. Therefore, the aim of this bill is to revoke the Public Gambling Act, 1867, and replace it with Bihar Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2026," chief minister Samrat Choudhary said about the bill in assembly. Besides, the Bihar assembly passed six other bills, including Bihar Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, Bihar Land Mutation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, Bihar Sugar Undertakings (Acquisition) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, Bihar Medical (Amendment) Bill, 2026, Bihar Nurses Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Bihar Agricultural Land (Conversion for Non-Agricultural Purposes) (Repeal) Bill, 2026. Under the Bihar Medical (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Bihar Nurses Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2026, doctors and nurses registered in other states can now practise in Bihar by just submitting a self-certification. Earlier, they were required to obtain a NOC from the state where they were previously registered. The assembly also passed two key land-related bills, introducing a Rs.200 fee for land mutation applications and abolishing the requirement to convert agricultural land before using it for commercial purposes. The house approved the Bihar Land Mutation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which empowers the state government to levy a fee on applications for land mutation, appeals and revision petitions. Under Bihar Agricultural Land (Conversion for Non-Agricultural Purposes) (Repeal) Bill, 2026, 2026, repealing Bihar Agricultural Land (Conversion for Non-Agricultural Purposes) Act, 2010, landowners will no longer be required to obtain permission to convert agricultural land before putting it to commercial or other non-agricultural use....