National Social Assistance Programme

✦Key Features

• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with funding shared between the Central Government and State/UT Governments.
• Comprises five sub-schemes: Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), and Annapurna Scheme.
• Benefits are provided as monthly pensions or a one-time lump sum payment.
• States/UTs are encouraged to contribute a higher amount than the central assistance.

✓Eligibility Criteria

• **IGNOAPS:** Applicant must be 60 years or above and belong to a household living below the poverty line.
• **IGNWPS:** Applicant must be 40-79 years of age, a widow, and belong to a household living below the poverty line.
• **IGNDPS:** Applicant must be 18-79 years of age, have severe or multiple disabilities (80% or more), and belong to a household living below the poverty line.
• **NFBS:** Primary breadwinner of a BPL family dies, aged 18-59 years, resulting in loss of livelihood. Family receives a one-time lump sum.

★Benefits

• Monthly financial assistance (pension) to eligible elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities.
• A one-time lump sum financial assistance to bereaved families on the death of the primary breadwinner.
• Improved financial security and reduced vulnerability for the poorest segments of society.

▶Application Process

• Obtain the application form from the Gram Panchayat/Block Office/District Social Welfare Office or download online.
• Fill in the application form with all required details accurately.
• Attach necessary documents as specified for the particular scheme.
• Submit the complete application form along with documents to the concerned local authority (e.g., Block Development Officer, District Social Welfare Officer).
• Verification of application and documents by local authorities.
• Approval and disbursement of benefits directly to the beneficiary's bank account.

₹ Budget Allocation

9636

Funding Ratio (Centre:State): Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) - 100% Central Assistance for the base pension, with states encouraged to top-up.

Historical Context

Launched on 15th August 1995, NSAP was originally a 100% Central Sector Scheme before being reclassified as Centrally Sponsored. It brought together various ad-hoc social assistance measures into a unified national framework.

Sub-Schemes

Challenges

• Stagnant central contribution rates (₹200 for 60-79 age group) which are inadequate for basic nutrition.
• Digital divide and biometrics failures in Aadhaar-linked payments leading to exclusion.
• Significant regional variations in implementation and state-level top-up amounts.
• Identification errors (Type I and Type II) in BPL lists.
• Low awareness in remote tribal pockets about the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS).

Reforms & Recommendations

• Indexation of pension amounts to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to protect purchasing power.
• Simplification of the application process through 'On-demand' registration.
• Integration with Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity for automated life certificate verification.
• Expansion of coverage to include 'near-poor' who are excluded by strict BPL criteria.

Performance Statistics

SDG Linkages

Constitutional Backing

Technology Used

Success Stories

Key Takeaways

• Five components: IGNOAPS, IGNWPS, IGNDPS, NFBW, Annapurna.
• Targeting the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities from BPL families.
• Universalization of pension for BPL households.
• Administered by the Ministry of Rural Development.

Convergence Schemes

• PMAY-G (Priority for NSAP beneficiaries)
• Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY)
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana
• MGNREGA

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