Nitish Kumar announces big hike in pension under social security scheme ahead of Bihar polls

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced on X a hike in pension under Social Security Pension Scheme from Rs. 400 to Rs. 1,100 per month.

The amount will be credited to the accounts of the beneficiaries on 10th of every month, the Chief Minister said.

"The elderly are a precious part of society and ensuring their dignified living is our top priority. The state government will continue to make efforts in this direction," Nitish said in his post on micro-blogging site.

Bihar, which is ruled by a coalition government comprising Nitish's JD(U) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is due to head to assembly polls in the last quarter of the year.

Prime Minister Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid foundation stones of multiple development projects worth over Rs  5,200  crore in Siwan.

Modi remarked that the projects will play a major role in the growth of regions like Siwan, Sasaram, Buxar, Motihari, Bettiah and Arrah.

He highlighted that these initiatives will ease the lives of the poor, the deprived, Dalits, Mahadalits, backward and extremely backward communities and extended warm congratulations to the people of Bihar for these projects.

"A prosperous Bihar will significantly contribute to the country's overall development," described Modi, attributing the confidence to the strength and capability of the people of Bihar.

The Prime Minister commended the people for eradicating the era of lawlessness in the state.

He observed that today's youth in Bihar know the state's condition two decades ago only through stories and anecdotes.

Pointing out that they may not fully grasp the extent of deterioration caused during that period of misrule, Modi emphasised that Bihar, which led India's progress for centuries, had once become a symbol of forced migration due to the grip of previous regimes.