Cabinet Extends Social Assistance Scheme
The Centre approves ₹53,428 crore for five years, revises disability-pension eligibility and renames the national welfare programme and its sub-schemes.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved 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. The decision includes renaming the programme and its sub-schemes, revising eligibility and assistance for disability pensions, and continuing existing pension and family-benefit schemes.
Under the approved changes, the National Social Assistance Programme will be renamed Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana. The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme will become Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana, while the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme will be renamed Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana.
The Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme will be renamed Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana, and the National Family Benefit Scheme will become Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana.
The Cabinet has revised assistance under the disability-pension scheme to ₹375 per month for eligible beneficiaries aged 0–79 years and ₹625 for those aged 80 years and above. The benchmark-disability requirement has been reduced from 80% to 40%, while the minimum age criterion has been removed so that eligible beneficiaries can receive assistance from birth.
The old-age and widow pension schemes, along with the family-benefit scheme, will continue in their existing form. The government said the approval is expected to benefit 3.20 crore people across all 36 States and Union Territories.
The Department of Rural Development will issue guidelines covering the revised eligibility criteria, beneficiary numbers and disability-pension assistance rates. According to the Cabinet decision, the guidelines are to be issued and implemented within three months.
Launched on August 15, 1995, the NSAP provides central assistance to eligible poor households. The programme is linked to Article 41 of the Constitution's Directive Principles of State Policy, which addresses public assistance in cases including old age, sickness, disability and other situations of undeserved want.
The government said the revised disability criteria also reflect the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which provides for a benchmark-disability threshold of 40%. The updated framework is intended to align eligibility with the statutory definition and expand access to assistance.