About National Social Assistance Programme:
- It is a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 1995.
- It extends financial support to individuals living below the poverty line (BPL).
- It is a key social welfare scheme that provides pensions to vulnerable groups, including the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities.
- Nodal Ministry: It is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.
- National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) covers Sub Schemes:
- Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): Under IGNOAPS, the Centre provides financial assistance of Rs 200 per month to individuals aged 60–79 years and Rs 500 per month to those aged 80 and above.
- Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS): Under IGNWPS, the Centre provides Rs 300 per month to widows aged 40–79 years and Rs 500 to those 80 and above.
- Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS): Financial assistance is provided to individuals with severe or multiple disabilities
- National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS): Under this the amount of one-time financial assistance is fixed at Rs 20,000. This is provided to families after the death of a primary breadwinner aged 18 to 59.
News changes to National Social Assistance Programme
- NSAP will now be known as Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana,
- IGNOAPS has been renamed as Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana.
- IGNWPS as the Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana.
- IGNDPS as the Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana.
- Under the Divyangjan pension scheme, a beneficiary in the age group of 0-79 years will receive Rs 375 – up from Rs 300 currently, while beneficiaries in the age group of 80 years and above will get Rs 625 – up from Rs 500 at present.
- National Family Benefit scheme as the Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana.
