Nitish Kumar Raises Social Security Pension to ₹1,100 Ahead of Bihar Elections
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced a substantial increase in Bihar’s Social Security Pension Scheme, raising monthly payments from ₹400 to ₹1,100. The decision, communicated via a post on X, will benefit 1.09 crore senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities, with disbursements scheduled for the 10th of each month starting July
The pension hike is being seen as a key welfare measure ahead of the Bihar assembly elections slated for October–November, with Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary calling it “a historic day” for vulnerable groups.
The scheme covers senior citizens, persons with disabilities, widows, and other eligible individuals under the state’s social welfare umbrella. Payments will be processed via DBT directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts on the 10th day of each month, ensuring prompt delivery.
On June 13, the CM had already transferred ₹271 crore to around 62 lakh beneficiaries under this and other welfare schemes—an amount drawn from a substantial rise in social security budgets over the past two decades.
In his X post, Nitish Kumar remarked, “The elderly are a precious part of society and ensuring their dignified living is our top priority. This will significantly help 1 crore 9 lakh 69 thousand 255 beneficiaries.” He underlined the government’s commitment to social welfare ahead of the polls.
Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary praised the move, saying, “Today is a historic day as the CM has increased pensions for widows, the elderly, and the specially‑abled. I thank the CM for this”.
Public reaction has been largely positive. Many beneficiaries welcomed the relief amid rising inflation. A 70-year-old widow from Patna said, “This increase will ease my household expenses.” On social media, users applauded the decision, although critics labeled it a pre‑poll tactics to gain votes.
Bihar’s senior citizens, widows and disabled persons previously received only ₹400 per month—a rate unchanged for years, despite similar pensions in other states reaching ₹1,000–2,000.
Since 2005–06, the number of social security pension beneficiaries in Bihar has surged from 12.25 lakh to over 1.09 crore in 2024–25, while the related budget ballooned from ₹98 crore to ₹5,241 crore. Critics, including RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, have long demanded higher payouts—up to ₹1,500—calling the current amount inadequate
