In a significant pre-election announcement, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday declared a major hike in pension advantages beneath the ‘Bihar Patrakaar Samman Pension Scheme’ for journalists and their dependent spouses.
Taking to social media platform X, Kumar stated the month-to-month pension for all eligible journalists shall be elevated from Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000. The pension for the dependent partner of a deceased journalist has additionally been hiked from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000 for his or her lifetime.
“I’m happy to tell that beneath the ‘Bihar Patrakaar Samman Pension Scheme’, directions have been given to the division to supply a month-to-month pension of Rs 15,000 as an alternative of Rs 6,000 to all eligible journalists. Moreover, within the occasion of the loss of life of journalists receiving a pension beneath the ‘Bihar Patrakaar Samman Pension Scheme’, directions have been given to supply their dependent partner with a month-to-month pension of Rs 10,000 as an alternative of Rs 3,000 for his or her lifetime,” CM posted on X.
मुझे यह बताते हुए खुशी हो रही है कि बिहार पत्रकार सम्मान पेंशन योजना के तहत अब सभी पात्र पत्रकारों को हर महीने 6 हजार रू॰ की जगह 15 हजार रू॰ पेंशन की राशि प्रदान करने का विभाग को निर्देश दिया है। साथ ही बिहार पत्रकार सम्मान पेंशन योजना के अंतर्गत पेंशन प्राप्त कर रहे पत्रकारों की…
— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) July 26, 2025
Journalists’ function in democracy
The Chief Minister additional acknowledged the essential function of journalists in democratic governance and their contribution to social improvement.
“Journalists play an important function in democracy. They’re the fourth pillar of democracy and have a major function in social improvement. Now we have been caring for journalists’ amenities from the start in order that they will carry out their journalism impartially and dwell with dignity after retirement,” he added.
Announcement comes forward of Meeting polls
The announcement comes months forward of the Bihar Legislative Meeting elections, anticipated to be held in October or November this yr. Whereas the Election Fee is but to announce the official dates, political momentum is constructing within the state.
In the meantime, the political ambiance has heated up over the Particular Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls, with the opposition INDIA bloc alleging voter listing tampering. The problem has sparked a significant political row each within the state and nationally.
On Friday, the Election Fee of Bihar stated that 99.8 per cent of the state’s electors have been coated beneath the continuing SIR course of. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) confirmed that types of over 7.23 crore electors have been acquired and digitised. Their names shall be included within the Draft Electoral Roll, which is ready to be revealed on August 1, 2025.
