Cabinet Approval of Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved on 14 October 2026 the continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme for five years from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with an outlay of Rs 53,428 crore. The programme has been renamed as Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana, and its four sub-schemes have been correspondingly renamed: Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana (old age pension), Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana (widow pension), Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana (disability pension), and Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana (family benefit scheme).
Programme Structure and Implementation
The National Social Assistance Programme was launched on 15 August 1995 to give effect to Article 41 of the Constitution, providing public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness, and disablement. It is a fully funded centrally sponsored scheme with 100% central assistance, ensuring minimum support for persons below the poverty line across both rural and urban areas. The programme covers approximately 3.20 crore beneficiaries across all 36 States and Union Territories, implemented mainly through state social welfare departments, rural development departments, women and child development departments, revenue departments, or labor departments, with Gram Panchayats and municipalities assisting in beneficiary identification and payments largely made through direct benefit transfer.
Key Revisions to Disability Pension Scheme
The most significant change affects the disability pension component (now Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana), which has been revised in three key aspects. First, the eligibility criteria have been aligned with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, reducing the benchmark disability requirement from 80% to 40%. Second, the minimum age requirement of 18 years has been removed, making eligibility effective from birth. Third, the central assistance rates have been increased to Rs 375 per month for beneficiaries aged 0-79 years and Rs 625 per month for those aged 80 years and above, up from the previous rates of Rs 300 and Rs 500 respectively.
Impact and Beneficiary Coverage
These changes significantly expand coverage, with the number of beneficiaries under the disability pension scheme increasing from 8.33 lakh to 27.48 lakh. The revision benefits three distinct groups: persons certified with 40-79% disability in households below the poverty line (previously excluded), children with benchmark disability from birth (previously had to wait until age 18), and existing pension recipients who will receive the enhanced rates. The programme maintains three unchanged conditions: certification of disability by certifying authorities, household below poverty line status, and application through state welfare departments.
Historical Context and Alignment
The disability pension was introduced in February 2009 as the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme, originally requiring 80% disability assessment under the National Trust Act 1999. The alignment with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 (in force since 19 April 2017) brings the pension scheme in line with other disability entitlements in higher education, government employment, and land and housing that already use the 40% benchmark. Revised guidelines incorporating the new eligibility criteria, beneficiary numbers, and assistance rates will be issued and implemented within three months of the Cabinet decision.