Govt renames prominent pension schemes
The government has announced the continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) with a total budget of Rs. 53,428 crore for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. This includes adjustments to the names and sub-schemes within NSAP, as well as revisions to eligibility criteria, coverage, and assistance rates for the divyangjan pension.
Under the updated scheme, the divyangjan pension will be Rs. 375 for beneficiaries aged between 0-79 years, and Rs. 625 for those aged 80 and above. Within three months, the guidelines for the disability pension scheme will be finalized and implemented, which will include modifications to the qualifying criteria, beneficiary count, and aid rate under this program.
The new eligibility criteria for the disability pension involve a lower benchmark disability percentage of 40% compared to the existing 80%. The minimum age requirement for receiving the disability pension will now be from birth. This change will benefit a total of 3.20 crore beneficiaries across all 36 states and Union Territories.
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