Lok Sabha Question No. 4109 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: National Social Assistance Programme
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Amrinder Singh Raja Warring

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4109 ANSWERED ON 25/03/2025

## NATIONAL SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME

## 4109. SHRI AMRINDER SINGH RAJA WARRING:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering any proposal to provide pension to all elderlies in the country especially to those who are not availing government pension after retirement, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the manner in which the Government  planning to cover such elderly who are not a beneficiary under any prevalent pension scheme due to any reasons or exclusion criterion;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that the current old  age  pension  rates  are  sufficient  for  an  elderly  person  to meet their very basic and minimum livelihood requirements;
- (d)    the  current  pension  rate  under  National  Social  Assistance Programme (NSAP) to destitute  persons  above  the  age  of  65 years;
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  also  planning  to  increase  the pension under NSAP; and
- (f)
- the last revision of old age pension took place under NSAP?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): At present, no proposal to provide pension  to all elderlies  in  the  country  is  under  consideration  in  the  Ministry  of Rural Development.
- (c): The central pension under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is ₹ 200/- per month per beneficiary in the age group of 60-79 years and ₹ 500/- per month per beneficiary from 80 years onwards for persons belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL). As  per  NSAP  guidelines,  the  States/UTs  are  encouraged  to

provide  top-up  amount  of  at  least  an  equivalent  amount  to  the assistance provided by the Central Government so that the beneficiaries could get a decent level of assistance. At present, the States/UTs  are  adding  top-up  amount  ranging  from  ₹ 50  to  ₹ 3000 per month per beneficiary under IGNOAPS, resulting in an average monthly pension of around ₹ 1,000/- in most of the States/UTs. The Government  considered  the  revision  proposal  while  deciding  the continuation  of  the  NSAP  for  the  15 th   Finance  Commission  cycle (2021-26) and approved the programme in its present form up to the 15 th  Finance Commission cycle (2021-26). (d): The central pension under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is ₹200/- per month per beneficiary from 60 to 79 years of age under Old Age Pension Scheme,  ₹ 300/- per month per beneficiary from 40 to 79 years under Widow Pension Scheme and ₹ 300/- per month per beneficiary from 18 to 79 years under Disability Pension Scheme. Rate of assistance for beneficiary above 80 years is   ₹500/-  per  month  in  all  three  pension  schemes  of  NSAP.  At present, the States/UTs are adding top-up amount ranging from ₹ 50 to ₹ 3716 per month per beneficiary under NSAP pension schemes resulting in an average monthly pension of around ₹ 1,000/- in most of the States/UTs. (e): At present, no such proposal is under consideration with the Government.

(f): Old age pension was increased from ₹ 75 to ₹ 200 in the year 2007. Old age pension was further increased to ₹ 500 for beneficiaries of 80 years and above in the year 2011.

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