Patna (Bihar), India – July 26, 2025 – Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced a significant increase in the monthly pension benefits for eligible journalists and their spouses under the ‘Bihar Patrakaar Samman Pension Scheme’. The move comes just months ahead of the Legislative Assembly elections in the state, expected in October or November this year.
In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), Chief Minister Kumar stated that the state government has instructed the concerned department to raise the monthly pension amount for all eligible journalists from the existing ₹6,000 to a substantial ₹15,000.
Further, acknowledging the continued support needed by families, the Chief Minister announced, “Additionally, in the event of the death of journalists receiving a pension under the ‘Bihar Patrakaar Samman Pension Scheme’, instructions have been given to provide their dependent spouse with a monthly pension of ₹10,000 instead of ₹3,000 for their lifetime.”
Emphasizing the crucial role of journalism in a democratic society, Chief Minister Kumar referred to journalists as the “fourth pillar of democracy” and highlighted their vital contribution to social development. He affirmed his government’s long-standing commitment to ensuring journalists can perform their duties impartially and live with dignity post-retirement. “We have been taking care of journalists’ facilities from the beginning so that they can perform their journalism impartially and live with dignity after retirement,” he stated.
Political Context and Electoral Roll Controversy
This significant announcement by the Chief Minister comes in the run-up to the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, for which the Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to announce official dates. The political climate in Bihar is already charged, with an intensifying battle between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the opposition Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance).
A major point of contention currently gripping the state and drawing national attention is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls. The opposition INDIA bloc has vehemently alleged that this revision exercise will lead to the deletion of a significant chunk of legitimate voters, raising concerns about potential disenfranchisement.
Earlier on Friday, the Election Commission of Bihar released a statement confirming that 99.8 percent of the state’s electors have been covered under the ongoing SIR process. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar stated that forms of over 7.23 crore electors have been received and digitized, and their names are set to be included in the Draft Electoral Roll, which is scheduled for release on August 1, 2025.
However, the opposition continues to voice strong objections, alleging bias and questioning the ECI’s motives. Reports indicate that an estimated 64 lakh voters might face removal from the electoral rolls based on reports of being “dead, permanently migrated, registered in multiple locations or untraceable.” The ECI has clarified that a provisional list of such electors was shared with all 12 recognized political parties in the state on July 20 to allow for rectifications before the draft roll’s publication. The controversy around the SIR remains a hot topic in the Bihar political landscape.