The Ministry of Rural Development has said that no proposal is under consideration to revise the assistance rate under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). The issue matters because NSAP is one of India’s core social security instruments for vulnerable households, and the final pension amount often depends on both central assistance and state or Union territory top-ups.
What the National Social Assistance Programme covers
NSAP is implemented across the country as a social security programme for vulnerable sections of society belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. The programme includes pension support for old-age persons, widows, and persons with disabilities.
Background and earlier position
According to the Ministry of Rural Development, the rate of central assistance under NSAP pension schemes, including the National Old Age Pension Scheme, the National Widow Pension Scheme, and the National Disability Pension Scheme, was last revised in 2012. The ministry said NSAP covers more than 3 crore BPL beneficiaries. It also said that around 5.9 crore additional pensioners are supported by state-funded social pension schemes.
What changed now
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