NEW DELHI: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced a significant hike in the state’s Social Security Pension Scheme, increasing the monthly pension amount from Rs 400 to Rs 1100 for elderly citizens, persons with disabilities, and widowed women.Taking to X, the CM said, “I am happy to inform you that under the Social Security Pension Scheme, all the elderly, disabled and widowed women will now get a pension of Rs 1100 instead of Rs 400 every month. All the beneficiaries will get a pension at the increased rate from the month of July. It will be ensured that this amount is sent to the account of all the beneficiaries on the 10th of the month. This will help 1 crore 9 lakh 69 thousand 255 beneficiaries a lot…”The revised pension scheme will take effect from July, and the state government has assured timely direct transfers to beneficiaries’ bank accounts every month.The announcement comes just months ahead of the crucial Bihar assembly elections. Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) is in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the opposition alliance, led by Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), is joined by the Congress.