By Social media creators in Bihar can now earn up to Rs 1 lakh per video for content that promotes state government schemes and programs. The state Cabinet approved this change as part of amendments to the Bihar Social Media and Other Online Media Rules, 2026. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary chaired the meeting where the amendment was passed. Money control first reported the development, noting it was one of 13 proposals cleared at the same Cabinet meeting.
How the payment structure works
Creators impaneled under Bihar’s government media rules will earn Rs 10,000 for every 1 lakh views a video receives. The state will release this payment 30 days after upload, and the total payout per video is capped at Rs 1 lakh. An official said the amended rules include additional provisions, and the Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD) will issue a detailed notification separately.
Views alone will not guarantee payment.
A viral video does not automatically qualify a creator for money under this scheme. Creators must first apply for empanelment with the state government. The IPRD then reviews each applicant’s social media accounts, follower count, and other eligibility criteria before approving. Only content that meets the government’s standards and focuses on state schemes, welfare programs, and development work qualifies for payment. The government will issue separate detailed rules on eligibility, verification, and view-counting.
What the government hasn’t clarified yet
The IPRD is expected to release a formal notification covering several open questions:
- The application process for creators seeking empanelment
- Which social media platforms the scheme will cover
- The specific conditions content must meet to qualify.
- The method the government will use to count and verify views
- The documentation creators must submit to receive payment.
Until this notification arrives, the scheme’s operational details, including empanelment and disbursement timelines, remain unclear.
The 2024 policy this builds on.
Bihar introduced its Social Media and Online Media Policy in 2024. It let influencers and web media outlets apply for empanelment to receive advertising-linked payments from the state. That policy classified applicants by follower count and monthly users, making impaneled accounts eligible for a share of government advertising spend. This latest Cabinet decision adds a new, performance-linked layer to that existing framework by introducing views-based payouts specifically for scheme-promotion videos.
A separate rulebook for government employees
This creator-payment scheme is distinct from the Bihar Government Servants’ Conduct (Amendment) Rules, 2026, which the state issued in January 2026 under Article 309. Those rules regulate only how government employees use social media. They bar employees from running accounts under false names without approval, and from using official email IDs or phone numbers for personal accounts. The rules also stop employees from sharing media from office premises or posting personal views on government matters without prior consent. The two policies, approved roughly seven months apart, target different groups: one restricts state employees, and the other pays external creators for scheme-related content.
How other states’ creator-payment schemes compare
Bihar joins a small group of Indian states that pay creators for pro-government content, though the payment models vary widely.
Uttar Pradesh’s Digital Media Policy 2024 lets influencers and digital platforms earn up to Rs 8 lakh per month for promoting state schemes. The same policy sets strict penalties, including jail terms and possible life sentences, for content the state deems “anti-national” or objectionable.
Rajasthan’s Broadcaster Policy uses a flat monthly tier system instead of a performance-linked model. Creators with more than 1 lakh followers receive Rs 25,000 per month. Those with 7,000 to 1 lakh followers get Rs 15,000 per month, regardless of video performance.
Karnataka takes a different approach altogether, routing funds through a state marketing agency. The state has allocated Rs 7.2 crore, including Rs 60 lakh per month, for this purpose. The funds cover social media management for civic bodies, including the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
