For Prelims: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Social Security Pension, Scheme Name, Nodal Department, Beneficiaries, Monthly Pension Amount, Total Amount Transferred, Total Beneficiaries
For Mains: Social security, inclusive development, DBT, fiscal federalism, welfare state
Source:
Hindustan
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary transferred ₹1,205.91 crore as social security pension on 10 November 2026.
- The pension amount is ₹1,100 per month per beneficiary.
- The scheme covers elderly, widows and disabled persons in Bihar.
- The transfer was done via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Why in the news?
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary transferred ₹1,205.91 crore as social security pension to over 1.09 crore beneficiaries—elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities—directly into their bank accounts via DBT on November 10, 2026, declared as 'Bihar Pension Day'. Each beneficiary receives ₹1,100 per month, a substantial increase from the earlier ₹400.
Summary
- Bihar's social security pension covers elderly, widows and persons with disabilities, with a monthly pension of ₹1,100 per beneficiary.
- The pension amount is transferred directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), ensuring transparency and reducing leakages.
- The state government has directed that a campaign be launched to enroll all eligible persons currently left out of the scheme.
Highlights
Pre-Chhath Gift to 1.09 Crore Beneficiaries
Bihar CM transferred ₹1,205.91 crore social security pension directly to bank accounts of 1.09 crore elderly, widows, and disabled persons ahead of Chhath Puja.
DBT Ensures Direct Transfer
The pension amount of ₹1,100 per month per beneficiary is transferred via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), eliminating intermediaries and ensuring timely delivery.
Pension Amount Nearly Tripled
The monthly pension was increased from ₹400 to ₹1,100, reflecting the state's enhanced commitment to social security and inclusive development.
Background
Bihar's social security pension scheme is a key welfare initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable groups—senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities. Originally paying ₹400 per month, the government increased the pension to ₹1,100. The scheme is implemented by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Bihar, and relies on DBT for fund transfer.
Way Forward
With the CM's directive to enroll remaining eligible persons, the scheme's coverage is expected to expand further. The state government may need to ensure adequate budget allocation for the increased pension amount. Future steps could include linking Aadhaar for better authentication and expanding the scheme to cover more categories of vulnerable persons.
Bihar Social Security Pension: Previous vs Current
| Feature | Previous | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly pension amount | ₹400 | ₹1,100 |
| Transfer mechanism | Various | DBT |
Bihar connection
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
- A mechanism to transfer subsidies or benefits directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries, reducing leakages and ensuring transparency.
- Social Security Pension
- A monthly financial assistance provided by the government to vulnerable groups such as elderly, widows, and disabled persons to ensure basic livelihood.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: ₹1,205.91 crore transferred to 1.09 crore beneficiaries at ₹1,100 per month via DBT.
- Nodal Body: Department of Social Welfare, Government of Bihar.
Don't make this mistake!
Examiners may confuse the earlier pension amount (₹400) with the current amount (₹1,100) or swap the total amount transferred (₹1,205.91 crore) with the per-beneficiary monthly amount (₹1,100).
Write these in mains answers
- Social security, inclusive development, DBT, fiscal federalism, welfare state
Stuck? Get it in one tap
- Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary transferred ₹1,205.91 crore as social security pension on 10 November 2026.
- The pension amount is ₹1,100 per month per beneficiary.
- The scheme covers elderly, widows and disabled persons in Bihar.
- The transfer was done via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
- Governance: Welfare schemes and social security
- State_Governance: Bihar government schemes
Related concepts: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Social Security Pension
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which department of the Government of Bihar is the nodal department for implementing the Social Security Pension Scheme?
Explanation: The Social Security Pension Scheme in Bihar is implemented by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Bihar, which oversees welfare programs for elderly, widows, and disabled persons.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements regarding the Bihar Social Security Pension Scheme:
- 1.The scheme provides a monthly pension of ₹1,100 to eligible beneficiaries.
- 2.The pension amount is transferred through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism.
- 3.The scheme covers only elderly citizens above 65 years of age.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct because the current monthly pension is ₹1,100 per beneficiary. Statement 2 is correct as the amount is transferred via DBT. Statement 3 is incorrect because the scheme also covers widows and persons with disabilities, not only elderly citizens.
- Q3Medium
What was the total amount of Social Security Pension transferred by the Bihar government on 10 November 2026?
Explanation: The Bihar government transferred ₹1,205.91 crore to 1.09 crore beneficiaries. ₹1,100 crore is close but not the exact amount, while ₹1,500 crore and ₹1,000 crore are incorrect figures.
- Q4Medium
What is the primary objective of the Bihar Social Security Pension Scheme?
Explanation: The scheme aims to provide monthly financial assistance to elderly, widows, and disabled persons to help them meet their basic needs. Savings promotion, employment incentive, and fiscal deficit reduction are not its primary objectives.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the amount of social security pension per beneficiary in Bihar?
The Bihar government provides a monthly pension of ₹1,100 to each eligible beneficiary under the Social Security Pension Scheme.
2. Who are the beneficiaries of the Bihar Social Security Pension Scheme?
The scheme covers elderly citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities in Bihar.
3. How is the pension amount transferred to beneficiaries in Bihar?
The pension amount is transferred directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism.
All sources
- Original10 November 2026 · Read story
