Lok Sabha Question No. 1801 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Beneficiaries under NSAP and NFBS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Rao Rajendra Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1801 ANSWERED ON 10/02/2026

## BENEFICIARIES UNDER NSAP AND NFBS

## 1801. Shri Rao Rajendra Singh:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENTbe pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  eligible  beneficiaries  identified  under  National Social  Assistance  Programme(NSAP)  including  the  National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and the number of beneficiariesactually covered during the last three years, State and UT-wise;
- (b) the names of such States/UTs where NFBS was not implemented  or  partially  implementedduring  the  last  three years, along with the reasons therefor, State-wise; and
- (c) the corrective steps taken or proposed by the Government to ensure  universal  coverage  ofeligible  beneficiaries,  proactive identification,  database  maintenance  and  full  implementation ofNAP across all States and Union Territories?

## ANSWER

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

(a): State/UT-wise  cap  on  the  number  of  beneficiaries  under  the pension schemes of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and under the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) are given at Annexure.

(b): Under  National  Family  Benefit  Scheme  (NFBS)  of  National Social  Assistance  Programme  (NSAP),  a  lump-sum  assistance  of Rs.20,000 is given to the bereaved household of Below Poverty Line (BPL) in the event of death of the primary bread-winner aged more than 18 years and less than 60 years. It is a demand-based scheme. Release of funds is contingent upon receipt of proposals from the concerned  State/UT,  submitted  in  accordance  with the  scheme guidelines and Ministry of Finance (MoF) instructions. Funds under the  scheme are released to States/UTs on the basis of number of

eligible beneficiaries whose database has been digitized on NSAPPPS  (National  Social  Assistance  Programme  -  Pension  Payment System) portal or State cap of number of beneficiaries, whichever is less. As the scheme is demand-driven, funds are released to States on receipt of proposal as per the guidelines.

(c): NSAP caters to 3.09  crore  BPL  beneficiaries  with  a  schemewise ceiling/ cap for each State/UT on the number of beneficiaries. At present, the pension schemes under NSAP have achieved almost 100%  saturation.  However,  States/  UTs  may  give  assistance  from their  own  resources  if  there  are  more  deserving  beneficiaries.  As per  the  information  collected  from  States/UTs,  about  5.87  crore additional pensioners are supported by State-funded social pension schemes.

As  per  NSAP  guidelines,  responsibility  of  implementation  of NSAP schemes, identification/verification of beneficiaries, disbursal of pension to beneficiaries, stoppage of pension, annual verification of beneficiaries lies in the hand of States/UTs.

A  web-based  pension  payment  portal,  NSAP-PPS  (National Social  Assistance  Programme-Pension  Payment  System)  has  been operationalized which is used for managing and monitoring pension benefits provided to eligible beneficiaries. The portal facilitates the maintenance of beneficiary records, processing of pension sanctions,  tracking  of  fund  disbursement  to  ensure  transparency and efficiency in pension delivery.

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Annexure

Annexure referred to in part (a) ofLokSabhaUnstarred Question No. 1801 to  be  answered  on  10.02.2026  regarding  Beneficiaries  under  NSAP  and NFBS.

State/UT-wise  cap  of  number  of  beneficiaries  under  pension  schemes  of NSAP (excluding NFBS)

| S.No.             | States/UTs         | beneficiaries   |
|-------------------|--------------------|-----------------|
| 1                 | Andhra Pradesh     | 934980          |
| 2                 | Bihar              | 3919447         |
| 3                 | Chhattisgarh       | 880142          |
| 4                 | Goa                | 13660           |
| 5                 | Gujarat            | 916953          |
| 6                 | Haryana            | 347256          |
| 7                 | Himachal Pradesh   | 116005          |
| 8                 | Jharkhand          | 1277520         |
| 9                 | Karnataka          | 1396274         |
| 10                | Kerala             | 846456          |
| 11                | Madhya Pradesh     | 2223469         |
| 12                | Maharashtra        | 1212967         |
| 13                | Odisha             | 2033959         |
| 14                | Punjab             | 138231          |
| 15                | Rajasthan          | 1169533         |
| 16                | Tamil Nadu         | 1920858         |
| 17                | Telangana          | 681613          |
| 18                | Uttar Pradesh      | 5833622         |
| 19                | Uttarakhand        | 231335          |
| 20                | West Bengal        | 2067272         |
| NE States         | NE States          |                 |
| 21                | Arunachal Pradesh  | 6293            |
| 22                | Assam              | 850531          |
| 23                | Manipur            | 63971           |
| 24                | Meghalaya          | 65316           |
| 25                | Mizoram            | 27524           |
| 26                | Nagaland           | 50779           |
| 27                | Sikkim             | 18854           |
| 28                | Tripura            | 154900          |
| Union Territories | Union Territories  |                 |
| 29                | A&N Islands        | 590             |
| 30                | Chandigarh         | 4964            |
| 31                | D&N Haveli and D&D | 11173           |
| 32                | NCT Delhi          | 154820          |
| 33                | J&K                | 140394          |
| 34                | Ladakh             | 7148            |
| 35                | Lakshadweep        | 293             |
| 36                | Puducherry         | 28805           |
|                   | TOTAL              | 29747907        |

## State/UT-wise cap/ceiling of number of beneficiaries under the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)

| Sl. No.States/UTs   | Sl. No.States/UTs   | Cap/ceiling of no. of beneficiaries   |   Cap/ceiling of no. of beneficiaries |
|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| 1                   | Andhra Pradesh      |                                       |                                 10906 |
| 2                   | Bihar               |                                       |                                 35859 |
| 3                   | Chhattisgarh        |                                       |                                 12801 |
| 4                   | Goa                 |                                       |                                   225 |
| 5                   | Gujarat             |                                       |                                 10695 |
| 6                   | Haryana             |                                       |                                  4154 |
| 7                   | Himachal Pradesh    |                                       |                                   684 |
| 8                   | Jharkhand           |                                       |                                 14148 |
| 9                   | Karnataka           |                                       |                                 18312 |
| 10                  | Kerala              |                                       |                                  4358 |
| 11                  | Madhya Pradesh      |                                       |                                 30826 |
| 12                  | Maharashtra         |                                       |                                 34987 |
| 13                  | Odisha              |                                       |                                 24697 |
| 14                  | Punjab              |                                       |                                  2673 |
| 15                  | Rajasthan           |                                       |                                 12347 |
| 16                  | Tamilnadu           |                                       |                                 18445 |
| 17                  | Telangana           |                                       |                                  7794 |
| 18                  | Uttar Pradesh       |                                       |                                 73075 |
| 19                  | Uttarakhand         |                                       |                                  4808 |
| 20                  | West Bengal         |                                       |                                 21553 |
| 21                  | Arunachal Pradesh   |                                       |                                   346 |
| 22                  | Assam               |                                       |                                  8524 |
| 23                  | Manipur             |                                       |                                   669 |
| 24                  | Meghalaya           |                                       |                                   781 |
| 29                  | Mizoram             |                                       |                                   197 |
| 26                  | Nagaland            |                                       |                                   535 |
| 27                  | Sikkim              |                                       |                                   175 |
| 28                  | Tripura             |                                       |                                   984 |
| 29                  | A&N Islands         |                                       |                                    86 |
| 30                  | Chandigarh          |                                       |                                    80 |
| 31                  | D&N Haveli and D&D  |                                       |                                   119 |
| 32                  | NCT Delhi           |                                       |                                  2270 |
| 33                  | J & K               |                                       |                                   323 |
| 34                  | Ladakh              |                                       |                                   112 |
| 35                  | Lakshadweep         |                                       |                                     9 |
| 36                  | Puducherry          |                                       |                                   283 |
|                     | TOTAL               |                                       |                                358840 |

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