PATNA, May 28 -- The Bihar government has introduced a new policy to directly purchase farmland from willing owners for public welfare projects, aiming to cut red tape and speed up development work while offering attractive compensation to farmers. This is among the 27 proposals cleared by the state cabinet at its meeting chaired by chief minister Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday. Briefing newspersons after the meeting, additional chief secretary (cabinet) Arvind Kumar Chaudhary said that the state government approved the Bihar Rayati Bhumi Kray Niti, 2026, which allows the government to buy private agricultural land directly from willing owners for public welfare projects. The aim is to bypass lengthy and often litigious land acquisition processes while offering attractive compensation to farmers. Under the policy, urban landowners will receive double the market value or circle rate (whichever is higher), while rural landowners get four times the higher of the two. An additional 10% incentive will be provided and the transactions will be exempted from stamp duty and registration charges. Officials said the mutual consent-based approach will help fast-track infrastructure and development works with minimal disputes. The cabinet also approved the Bihar Special Survey and Settlement (Amendment) Rules, 2026, extending comprehensive land surveys - already underway in rural areas - to municipal and urban regions. The amendments to the 2012 rules seek to make the ongoing special survey and settlement exercise more transparent, accurate and time-bound. Fresh records of rights (khatiyan) and updated maps will be prepared for both rural and urban areas. Key changes include removal of obsolete provisions, addition of new ones where required and clear definitions of technical terms related to land surveys to avoid confusion and delays. The government expects these steps to ensure nearly 100% accuracy in records, reduce disputes and modernise land documentation across the state. In a major relief for public servants, the cabinet approved cashless indoor medical treatment under the state health scheme for sitting and former members of the Bihar legislature, serving and retired All India Services officers, regular state government employees, pensioners and their dependents. Beneficiaries will no longer have to pay hospital bills upfront for admission and treatment. The cabinet also approved a regulatory framework for small and medium hospitals named Bihar Small and Medium Health Service Establishments (Establishment and Registration) Regulations, 2026. The state government would ensure that the medical clinics, small hospitals (up to 40 beds), dental clinics, diagnostic centres and similar facilities adhered to the new policy. Until now, hospitals with more than 40 beds were regulated under the 2013 rules. The new regulations will now cover clinics, small hospitals (up to 40 beds), dental clinics, diagnostic centres, and similar establishments. The framework was prepared following recommendations of a committee headed by the director (nursing), health services, after several court cases highlighted the regulatory gap. It includes provisions for mandatory registration, record-keeping, appeals, cancellation of registration and penalties for violations. At the state level, a five-member council headed by the special or additional secretary of the health department will be constituted. At the district level, three-member registration authorities headed by the civil surgeon-cum-chief medical officer will handle implementation. The cabinet also sanctioned several infrastructure and administrative proposals, which included approval for five state highways at an estimated cost of Rs.3,744 crore, over Rs.606 crore for restoration and modernisation of Western Kosi irrigation schemes, covering 36 km of canals and related works. Additionally, Rs.218 crore was approved for restoration and modernisation of the Jhanjharpur branch canal. The cabinet also cleared creation of 39 new posts for an independent spine sub-specialty unit at Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH), 25% of junior secretariat assistant posts reserved for office attendants, and Rs.65 crore for upkeep of registration and counselling centres....