Lok Sabha Question No. 2477 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: Old Age Pension under NSAP
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. D Ravi Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2477 ANSWERED ON 06/08/2024

## OLD AGE PENSION UNDER NSAP

## 2477 DR. D RAVI KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENTbe pleased to state:

- whether the Government is aware that contribution to old-age NationalSocial  Assistance  Programme (NSAP)  has  stagnated  at  just  Rs.  200  per  month  for  more
- (a) pensions under the thanfifteen years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  raise  this  contribution and if  so,  the  time  by  which  itwould  be  raised  alongwith  the details of the amount to be raised; and
- (c) the number of old age pensioners, State-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a):  The  central  pension  under  the  Old  Age  Pension  Scheme  of National  Social  Assistance  Programme  (NSAP)  is  Rs.  200/-  per month  per  beneficiary  up  to  79  years  and  Rs.500/-  per  month  per beneficiary from 80 years onwards. As per guidelines of NSAP, the State/UTs  are  encouraged  to  provide  top  up  amounts  at  least  an equivalent amount to the assistance provided by the Central Govt. so that the beneficiaries could get a decent level of assistance. At present,  the  States/UTs  are  adding  Top  up  amounts  ranging  from Rs.50 to Rs.3200 per month per beneficiaries under NSAP schemes, resulting in an average monthly pension of around ₹1,000/- in most of the States/UTs.

(b): While considering the continuation of National Social Assistance Programme  (NSAP) schemes for the 15 th Finance Commission  cycle  (2021-26),  the  revision  in  beneficiary  coverage and  rate  of  assistance  under  the  schemes  was  considered  by  the Government.  However,  considering  the  available  financial  space, the Government has approved continuation of NSAP schemes in its present form. (c):  State/UT-wise details of old age pension beneficiaries covered under  NSAP  based  on  state  cap  or  the  number  of  beneficiaries digitized, whichever is less, is given at Annexure.

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Annexure referred to in part (c) of LokSabhaUnstarred Question No. 2477 to be answered on 06.08.2024 regarding Old Age Pension under NSAP

## ANNEXURE

## State/UT-wise  details  of  old  age  pension  beneficiaries  covered  under NSAP

| Sl. No.           | States/UTs         | Number of beneficiaries   |
|-------------------|--------------------|---------------------------|
| 1                 | Andhra Pradesh     | 663736                    |
| 2                 | Bihar              | 3157256                   |
| 3                 | Chhattisgarh       | 644429                    |
| 4                 | Goa                | 7308                      |
| 5                 | Gujarat            | 620548                    |
| 6                 | Haryana            | 259865                    |
| 7                 | Himachal Pradesh   | 93178                     |
| 8                 | Jharkhand          | 918249                    |
| 9                 | Karnataka          | 707058                    |
| 10                | Kerala             | 449160                    |
| 11                | Madhya Pradesh     | 1575079                   |
| 12                | Maharashtra        | 1091944                   |
| 13                | Odisha             | 1407189                   |
| 14                | Punjab             | 102698                    |
| 15                | Rajasthan          | 823972                    |
| 16                | Tamil Nadu         | 1282468                   |
| 17                | Telangana          | 480315                    |
| 18                | Uttar Pradesh      | 4722613                   |
| 19                | Uttarakhand        | 204557                    |
| 20                | West Bengal        | 1230862                   |
| NE States         | NE States          | NE States                 |
| 21                | Arunachal Pradesh  | 5893                      |
| 22                | Assam              | 635304                    |
| 23                | Manipur            | 53684                     |
| 24                | Meghalaya          | 54380                     |
| 25                | Mizoram            | 24524                     |
| 26                | Nagaland           | 45941                     |
| 27                | Sikkim             | 16928                     |
| 28                | Tripura            | 126461                    |
| Union Territories | Union Territories  | Union Territories         |
| 29                | A&N Islands        | 581                       |
| 30                | Chandigarh         | 2378                      |
| 31                | D&N Haveli and D&D | 8754                      |
| 32                | Delhi              | 107834                    |
| 33                | Jammu &Kashmit     | 106697                    |
| 34                | Ladakh             | 6486                      |
| 35                | Lakshadweep        | 120                       |
| 36                | Puducherry         | 17713                     |

| TOTAL   | 21656162   |
|---------|------------|