Bihar govt transfers ₹1,423 crore to 97.84 lakh pension beneficiaries
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Bihar government on 10 July disbursed ₹1,423.94 crore through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system to approximately 97.84 lakh beneficiaries enrolled under various social security pension schemes. The one-time transfer provides financial assistance to elderly citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities across the state.
How the Transfer Was Executed
The disbursement event was held at Sankalp Hall in Lok Sevak Awas, Patna, in the presence of senior ministers and government officials. Each eligible beneficiary received ₹1,100 credited directly into their bank account, with the total outlay exceeding ₹1,423.94 crore for the exercise.
The state government announced that pension amounts will henceforth be credited on the 10th of every month through DBT — a shift designed to ensure timely payments and eliminate the need for beneficiaries to visit government offices to follow up on disbursements.
What Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary Said
Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary addressed the gathering, noting that 10 July is observed as 'Bihar Pension Day' every year. He said the government's core objective is to ensure timely financial assistance for vulnerable sections of society.
Chaudhary highlighted that the monthly social security pension has been raised from ₹400 to ₹1,100 — a nearly three-fold increase — which he said has provided substantial relief to lakhs of senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities. He also directed officials to identify and enrol all eligible individuals not yet covered under the schemes, emphasising that no deserving person should be excluded.
Political and Policy Context
Chaudhary linked the initiative to the broader development vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) and to former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's agenda of building a prosperous Bihar. He said social security programmes are being progressively strengthened in line with these objectives.
Notably, the pension hike from ₹400 to ₹1,100 represents one of the more significant upward revisions to Bihar's social security floor in recent years, at a time when several states have come under scrutiny for delays and leakages in welfare transfers. The DBT mechanism is intended to address both concerns by routing funds directly to verified bank accounts.
Senior Officials Present
The programme was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Social Welfare Minister Shweta Gupta, and other senior officials, reaffirming the state government's stated focus on strengthening Bihar's social security network.
Going forward, the administration has been instructed to expedite the inclusion of pending eligible applicants and ensure transparent, on-schedule pension distribution every month.