Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Department of Rural Development for Continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) with total outlay of Rs. 53,428 crore for five years from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with (i) Renaming of the scheme & sub-schemes (ii) Revision in eligibility criteria, coverage and rate of assistance for divyangjan pension and (iii) continuation of pension schemes for old aged & widows and family benefit scheme in its existing form.
Details:
- Renaming of scheme and sub schemes:
| Existing Name | Approved name |
| National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) | Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana(प्रधानमंत्री सामाजिक सहायता योजना) |
| Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) | Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana (प्रधानमंत्री वृद्धावस्था पेंशन योजना) |
| Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) | Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana (प्रधानमंत्री विधवा पेंशन योजना) |
| Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) | Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana (प्रधानमंत्री दिव्यांगजन पेंशन योजना) |
| National Family Benefit scheme | Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana (प्रधानमंत्री पारिवार लाभ योजना) |
- Changes in disability pension:
Amount of assistance under divyangjan pension scheme will now be Rs.375/- for the age group of 0-79 yrs and Rs.625/- for 80 yrs and above. The following changes have been made along with enhancement of rate of assistance under the scheme:
(a) The criteria for benchmark disability under the scheme will be 40% against 80% at present.
(b) Minimum age criterion for the disability pension will now be since birth.
iii. Pension schemes for old aged & widows and family benefit scheme will continue in its existing form.
Benefits:
A total of 3.20 crore beneficiaries across all the 36 States/UTs will benefit from this approval.
Implementation strategy and target:
Guidelines consisting of the change in eligibility criteria, no. of beneficiaries and rate of assistance under divyangjan pension will be issued and implemented within three months.
Background:
The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) was launched on 15th August, 1995 for assistance to poor households to fulfil the responsibility of the Central Government under the Directive Principles of State Policy in Article 41 of the Constitution of India. The intention in providing 100 per cent central assistance is to ensure that assistance to the beneficiaries everywhere in the country is uniformly available.
Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016 has necessitated changes in the eligibility criteria for disability pension and linked it to the ‘Benchmark Disability’ of 40%. In addition, it has also mandated the disability related assistance to be invariably 25% higher than similarly placed schemes being mooted for other categories.
