The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to the continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme- NSAP for five years, from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a total outlay of 53,428 crore rupees. The approval also includes renaming of this scheme and sub-schemes with revision in eligibility criteria, coverage and rate of assistance for divyangjan pension and continuation of pension schemes for old aged and widows and family benefit scheme in its existing form. The National Social Assistance Programme has been renamed as Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana. The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme will now be named as Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana, while the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme will become Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana.The Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme has been renamed as Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana and while the National Family Benefit Scheme will be called Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana.
Briefing media after the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishanw said that the amount of assistance under divyangjan pension scheme will now be 375 rupees for the age group of up to 79 yrs and 625 rupees for 80 yrs and above. Mr Vaishanw said that the criteria for benchmark disability will be 40 percent against 80 percent at present for divyangjan. He said, under it , the minimum age criterion for the disability pension will now be since birth. He informed that a total of three crore and 20 lakh beneficiaries across all the 36 States and UTs will be benefitted from this approval.
He said, Pension schemes for old aged and widows and family benefit scheme will continue in its existing form. The guidelines consisting of the change in eligibility criteria, number of beneficiaries and rate of assistance under divyangjan pension will be issued and implemented within three months.
