Lok Sabha Question No. 2857 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-10
Subject: Social Security Pensions
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Sunil Bose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2857 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2026

## SOCIAL SECURITY PENSIONS

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of beneficiaries receiving social security pensions under various schemes for women; older persons and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Karnataka and especially Chamarajanagar districts;
- to each beneficiary women; older persons and PwDs in the State of Karnataka and especially Chamarajanagar districts separately, scheme-wise;
- the  time by which the   pension amount last   revised for beneficiaries   in  especially Chamarajanagar districts;
- whether the Union Government has received any representation from the Union Territory Administration for an increase in the pension amount, if s0, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has any plans to increase the pension amount for beneficiaries in Karnataka; if the details thereof; if not; the reasons therefor? SO,

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI BL:VERMA)

(a) & (b): The Ministry of Rural Development has informed that it implements the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) which is a 100% centrally funded scheme covering the persons belonging to families living Below Poverty Line (BPL) It comprises of the following three pension schemes:

- Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) Assistance of ? 2 00/- per month to persons in the age group of60-79 years and < 500/- per month to th persons of 80 years and above.
- ii\_ Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) Assistance of <300/per month to widows in the age-group of 40-79 years and < 500/- per month to widow s of 80 years and above.
- iii. Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) Assistance of ?30 0/- per month to persons 18-79 years with severe Or multiple disabilities and < 5 00/- per month to persons of 80 years and above. aged

As per the NSAP guidelines, the States/UTs are also encouraged to provide top-ups over and above the central assistance. The details of the top-up provided by the State of Karnataka including Chamrajnagar district are given below:

| State      | IGNOAPS       | IGNOAPS     | IGNOAPS     | IGNOAPS            | IGNOAPS            | IGNOAPS            | IGNWPS        | IGNWPS      | IGNWPS   | IGNDPS        | IGNDPS      | IGNDPS   |
|------------|---------------|-------------|-------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|---------------|-------------|----------|---------------|-------------|----------|
|            | 60-79 years   | 60-79 years | 60-79 years | 80 years and above | 80 years and above | 80 years and above |               |             |          |               |             |          |
|            | Central Govt: | State Govt: | Total       | Central Govt:      | State Govt:        | Total              | Central Govt: | State Govt: | Total    | Central Govt: | State Govt: | Total    |
| KKarnataka | 200           | 400-1000    | 1600-1200   | 500                | 700                | 1200               | 300           | 500         | 800      | 300           | 1100        | 1400     |

Scheme-wise ceiling of the number of beneficiaries under NSAP in the state of Karnataka including Chamrajnagar distrct, is given below:

| States/UTs   |   IGNOAPS |   IGNWPS |   IGNDPS |
|--------------|-----------|----------|----------|
| Karnataka    |    899422 |   452027 |    44825 |

(c); (d) & (e): Year of initial fixation of pension amount under Old age, Widow and Disability Pension Schemes is 1995, 2009 and 2009 respectively: There is no specific timeline for revision of assistance prescribed under Scheme guidelines However, pension amount under Old Age Scheme was revised from Rs. 75/- to Rs. 200/- in the year of 2007. Old age pension was increased to Rs. 500/- for beneficiaries of 80 years & above in 2011. Further; assistance under Widow Pension and Disability Pension was increased to Rs. 300/- from Rs 200/- in the year 2012.

Based on various recommendations and evaluation studies, a proposal for revamp of NSAP, which inter-alia included revision in eligibility criteria, rate of assistance and sharing arrangement with the States was considered during continuation of NSAP for the 1Sth Finance Commission cycle (2021-26): However; the Government has approved continuation of NSAP schemes in its present form: At present; there is no proposal under consideration to revi se the coveragelrate of assistance under NSAP.

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