NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the renaming of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and several of its sub-schemes, including those named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.The Cabinet also approved the continuation of NSAP for five years, from 2026-27 to 2030-31, with a total outlay of Rs 53,428 crore.Here are the approved name changes and details of the schemes:
- National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): It will be renamed Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana. Launched on August 15, 1995, the programme provides social security assistance to poor and vulnerable households.
- Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): It will be renamed Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana. The scheme provides monthly financial assistance to eligible elderly people from below poverty line (BPL) households.
- Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS): It will be renamed Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana. It provides financial assistance to eligible widows from BPL households.
- Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS): It will be renamed Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana. The scheme provides monthly pension assistance to eligible persons with disabilities from BPL households.
- National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS): It will be renamed Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana. The scheme provides financial assistance to eligible households following the death of the primary breadwinner.
Changes to disability pensionAlongside the renaming, the Cabinet approved changes to the disability pension scheme. Monthly assistance will increase to Rs 375 for beneficiaries aged 0-79 years and Rs 625 for those aged 80 and above.The minimum benchmark disability requirement will be reduced from 80% to 40%, while the minimum age criterion will be removed, making individuals eligible for assistance from birth, subject to the scheme’s other conditions.The Cabinet said the old-age and widow pension schemes, along with the family benefit scheme, would continue in their existing form.
Join conversation
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
A total of 3.20 crore beneficiaries across all 36 states and Union territories are expected to benefit from the approval. Guidelines covering the revised eligibility criteria, beneficiary coverage and assistance under the disability pension scheme will be issued and implemented within three months.The programme was launched to fulfil the Central government’s responsibility under Article 41 of the Constitution’s Directive Principles of State Policy, which concerns public assistance in cases including old age, sickness and disability.
Leave a Reply