Centre approves NSAP continuation till 2031, renames it Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana

Cabinet approved continuing the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) for five years until 2031. The scheme is renamed Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana. Former PM Indira Gandhi's name is dropped from three sub-schemes.

Budget is Rs 53,428 crore. It will help 3.2 crore people. Revised scheme covers at-risk groups like elderly, widows and persons with disabilities.

Renamed sub-schemes

• Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme is now PM Vridhavastha Pension Yojana.
• Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme is now PM Vidhawa Pension Yojana.
• Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme is now PM Divyangjan Pension Yojana.

Revised disability pension

Monthly support goes up to Rs 375 for people from birth to 79 years. It rises to Rs 625 for those 80 and above. Earlier, people aged 18-79 got Rs 300 per month. Those 80 and above got Rs 500.

Eligibility for benchmark disability drops to 40% from 80%. This matches the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Law requires disability support to be at least 25% higher than similar schemes. Revised sub-scheme will cover over 27.48 lakh people.

Unchanged pension amounts

Pension amounts under old-age and widow schemes stay the same. Old-age pension is Rs 200 to Rs 500 per month. It covers 221.31 lakh people. Widow pension is Rs 300 to Rs 500 per month. It covers 67.38 lakh people.

Support under National Family Benefit Scheme also stays the same. One-time money help of Rs 20,000 goes to a family after its main earner dies. Deceased must have been 18 to 59 years old. Scheme covers up to 3.59 lakh families.