'One nation, one election' mechanism may be ready for rollout by 2029: Joint panel chief
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. 84 lakh social security pensioners from his official residence Lok Sevak Awas.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. 84 lakh social security pensioners from his official residence Lok Sevak Awas.


Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. File picture | 94 crore via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the accounts of 97.84 lakh social security pensioners from his official residence Lok Sevak Awas. The transfer includes payments for June 2026 under the three state pension schemes, and for May and June 2026 under the three National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) pension schemes.Social security pensioners, District Magistrates from all districts, and other people participated in the event via video conferencing. He announced that no eligible person will be left out of the pension scheme; a special drive will be conducted to link all previously missed eligible beneficiaries to these schemes.Making the social security more robust and effective, the Chief Minister announced that the 10th of every month would henceforth be observed as ‘Bihar Pension Day’. It will be ensured that pension amounts reach the bank accounts of all eligible pensioners in the state via DBT on this day, he added.Mr. Choudhary congratulated all the social security pensioners noting that this serves as a testament to the government’s transparent, accountable, and technology-driven system of public welfare. He asserted that under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the highest priority has been accorded to the dignity and social security of the poor, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and the marginalized sections of society.“Under the leadership of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the effective implementation of social security schemes has been ensured in Bihar,”Mr. Choudhary said.Mr. Choudhary directed that during ‘Sahyog Shivir’ (assistance camp) and ‘Panchayat Vikas Diwas’ (Panchayat Development Day) events, officials should interact with the public and launch a campaign to ensure that no eligible beneficiary of social security pensions is left out.He instructed that the Aadhaar cards of those not yet linked should be linked promptly. He added that pension distribution must be timely, transparent, and fully ensured so that every eligible citizen can receive the benefits of social security with dignity.The Chief Minister pointed out that the state government’s objective is not merely to provide financial assistance but to strengthen the dignity, security, and self-confidence of every needy citizen in society. Raising the social security pension amount from ₹400 to ₹1,100 has brought about a positive change in people’s lives, he added.The programme was attended by both Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav along with Social Welfare Department Minister Dr. Shweta Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Deepak Kumar and Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit. Published - July 11, 2026 08:13 am IST
The Joint Committee of Parliament examining the Bills on simultaneous elections is working to create a mechanism that could make the ‘One Nation, One Election’ reform fully operational by the 2029 general election, its chairperson said on Friday.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the panel’s two-day meeting in Goa, P.P. Chaudhary claimed that nearly 99 % of civil society stakeholders consulted so far have backed the proposal, which aims to curb an estimated ₹7 lakh crore economic loss caused by frequent elections.The committee began its deliberations in Goa on the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, with an interaction with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and members of his Cabinet, seeking their views on the challenges involved in implementing simultaneous elections and ways to address them.Highlighting the economic rationale behind the proposal, Mr. Chaudhary cited findings placed before the high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind.He said that an economic study submitted to the Kovind committee estimated that holding elections separately across the country results in an economic loss of nearly ₹7 lakh crore. Published - July 11, 2026 03:27 am IST
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