NationalSaturday, 19 September 2026·The Hindu - National
Bihar OTS scheme for brick kilns waives ₹90.26 crore interest; DMF rules also amended
Bihar announced a three-month OTS scheme for brick kilns and amended DMF rules to change fund-sharing and membership provisions.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On September 18, 2026, the Bihar government announced a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for brick kilns for the 2024-25 season and said the interest component of ₹90.26 crore on total dues of ₹316.66 crore would be waived.
Key specifics
- The scheme covers about 6,000 brick kilns in Bihar.
- It will run for 3 months, from September 21 to December 20, 2026.
- Brick kiln owners must pay the principal dues, while the interest on earlier dues is waived by the State government.
- Only ₹27.28 crore had been recovered out of ₹316.66 crore through certificate proceedings/FIRs before the scheme.
- Bihar also amended DMF rules: 70% of the District Mineral Foundation will now be spent in the extraction block, up from the earlier 60:40 ratio.
Exam lens
MCQ focus: OTS meaning, dates September 21–December 20, 2026, ₹316.66 crore dues, DMF 70:30 rule, and inclusion of MPs/MLAs/MLCs in DMF membership; useful for questions on state mineral governance.