Status
Mandatory for All Employers
Effective Period
1 April 2026 - 30 September 2026
Notification
w.e.f. 1 Apr 2026 (daily rates)
Issued by the Labour Resources Department, Government of Bihar. Applies to every employer registered under General Scheduled Employment in Bihar. Non-compliance attracts penalty under the Code on Wages, 2019.
Minimum Wages in Bihar
2026 — Skill-Wise Rates
Official minimum wage rates for Bihar - statewide and skill-based (no zones). Bihar notifies daily rates (the binding figure), revised every April and October. The current cycle is effective 1 April 2026.
Quick Answer
Bihar’s minimum wages range from about ₹436/day (₹11,336/month) (Unskilled) to ₹672/day (₹17,472/month) (Highly-skilled), including VDA. Effective 1 April 2026.
₹11,336 - ₹17,472
per month · General Scheduled Employment
Basis
Daily × 26Next revision
1 October 2026Last updated: June 2026. Figures are compiled from the latest available notifications and reputable compliance sources and are provided for guidance only. Minimum wages and VDA change frequently - verify against the official notification (Bihar Labour Resources Department) before using for payroll.
Complete Rate Card - by Skill
Bihar general scheduled employment - daily and monthly minimum wage by skill, effective 1 April 2026.
| Skill Category | Per Day | Per Month |
|---|---|---|
| Unskilled | ₹436 | ₹11,336 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹452 | ₹11,752 |
| Skilled | ₹551 | ₹14,326 |
| Highly-skilled | ₹672 | ₹17,472 |
Bihar notifies daily rates (the legally binding figure), including VDA; monthly = daily × 26. There is no separate clerical/supervisory rate - staff map to the skilled / highly-skilled tiers. Revised every April and October. Verify on the Bihar Labour Resources Department site.
How Bihar Structures Minimum Wages (No Zones)
Bihar applies uniform statewide rates:
Statewide skill-based rates
Four tiers - Unskilled, Semi-skilled, Skilled and Highly-skilled - uniform across the state.
Daily rates are binding
The notification fixes daily wages; monthly figures are daily × 26.
Half-yearly VDA
The dearness component is revised every April and October on the All-India CPI.
What Every Bihar Employer Must Do
Pay at least the notified zone-wise rate
Use the rate matching each branch’s location - not the head-office zone. Paying below the notified minimum is illegal even if the employee agrees.
Apply the latest VDA / revised rate
Update payroll the moment a new notification or VDA revision is published. Arrears apply from the effective date, not the date you noticed.
Maintain wage & attendance registers
Keep statutory registers, wage slips and muster rolls. Inspectors can demand records for the past several years.
Layer statutory costs correctly
On top of minimum wage, account for PF (12% of basic), ESI (3.25% if wage ≤ ₹21,000), bonus and gratuity provision.
Penalty for Non-Compliance
Under the Code on Wages, 2019 (in force across India from 21 November 2025), paying any worker below the notified minimum wage attracts a fine up to ₹50,000 for a first offence, and imprisonment up to 3 months or a fine up to ₹1,00,000 (or both) for a repeat offence within five years. The employer must also pay the full wage arrears due. Failing to maintain the prescribed wage and attendance registers carries a further fine up to ₹10,000. The Bihar Labour Department enforces this through Inspector-cum-Facilitator inspections across Patna's retail, hospitality, construction and manufacturing establishments, so Bihar employers should keep payroll and statutory registers audit-ready year-round.
Source: Code on Wages, 2019 (Act 29 of 2019), Sec. 54 · Bihar Labour Resources Department
Download the Bihar Minimum Wages 2026 Rate Card
Get the full PDF - all zones, every role band, VDA breakdown and an employer compliance checklist. Free, ready for your HR & payroll records.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Bihar in 2026?
Effective 1 April 2026, daily rates range from about Rs.436/day (Unskilled) to Rs.672/day (Highly-skilled) - roughly Rs.11,336 to Rs.17,472 per month (daily times 26), including VDA.
Does Bihar use zones for minimum wages?
No. Bihar applies uniform statewide skill-based rates with no geographic zones.
Are Bihar minimum wages daily or monthly?
Bihar notifies daily rates as the binding figure. The monthly amount is the daily rate multiplied by 26 working days.
How often are Bihar minimum wages revised?
The VDA is revised half-yearly, effective 1 April and 1 October, based on the All-India CPI. The next revision is due 1 October 2026.
What is the penalty for paying below minimum wage?
Paying below the notified minimum is illegal even with consent. Under the Code on Wages, 2019 employers face fines up to Rs.50,000 (first offence) and up to Rs.1,00,000 with imprisonment for repeat offences, plus full wage arrears.
Does minimum wage include PF and ESI?
No. Minimum wage is the gross paid to the worker. PF (12% of basic), ESI (3.25% of gross if wage is up to Rs.21,000), bonus and gratuity are additional employer costs.
Explore Minimum Wages Across India
Minimum wages differ by state, zone, skill and industry. Compare Bihar with other states, or see the full national overview.
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