**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment implements various schemes for senior citizens, including the Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP), Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), and the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE). The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is also implemented under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) by the Ministry of Rural Development. The document provides details on financial assistance, beneficiaries, allocations, and expenditures under these schemes, with data tables spanning from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP):**
* Provides financial assistance to NGOs for running old age homes for indigent senior citizens aged 60 years and above.
* State-wise and year-wise number of beneficiaries is detailed in Annexure-I.
* **Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS):**
* Under IGNOAPS, financial assistance of ₹200 per month is provided to persons aged 60–79 years and ₹500 per month to persons aged 80 years and above, subject to eligibility under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) criteria.
* Provides ₹200 per month for those aged 60-79 and ₹500 for those 80 and above, subject to BPL criteria.
* State/UT-wise beneficiary ceilings are in Annexure-II; year-wise allocations/expenditures are in Annexure-VI.
* States/UTs are encouraged to provide top-up assistance from their resources.
* **Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY):**
* Provides assistive devices to BPL senior citizens with age-related disabilities.
* State-wise and year-wise beneficiary numbers are in Annexure-III; year-wise allocations/expenditures are in Annexure-V.
* The distribution of assisted living devices under RVY is expanded based on requirement and availability of resources.
* **National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE):**
* Provides geriatric healthcare services at district hospitals and Community Health Centres.
* Number of functional districts increased from 595 in 2020-21 to 722 in 2024-25.
* Year-wise status of districts functional under NPHCE is given at Annexure-IV, and State-wise budget allocation and expenditure under NPHCE is given at Annexure-VII.
* **IPOP (component IPSrC of AVYAY):**
* Year-wise allocation as per EFC recommendations and expenditure incurred are provided at Annexure-V, along with State-wise details of grants released.
* **General Information**
* Revisions in eligibility criteria and sharing patterns were proposed during the Fifteenth Finance Commission cycle (2021–26).
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment**
*Impact:*
Responsible for implementing and monitoring the IPOP, RVY, and NPHCE schemes.
*Action Required:*
Ensure efficient allocation and utilization of funds for these schemes and adapt to new changes as well as proposed revisions in eligibility criteria and sharing patterns.
**Ministry of Rural Development**
*Impact:*
Responsible for implementing IGNOAPS under the NSAP.
*Action Required:*
Ensure effective distribution of pension benefits to eligible beneficiaries.
**State Governments/Union Territories**
*Impact:*
Responsible for implementing and administering the schemes at the state level.
*Action Required:*
Provide top-up assistance to IGNOAPS beneficiaries from their own resources, as encouraged.
**NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations)**
*Impact:*
NGOs that run and maintain old age homes and other facilities for indigent senior citizens aged 60 years and above are eligible to receive financial assistance.
*Action Required:*
Apply for and utilize financial assistance effectively to provide quality care for senior citizens.
**Senior Citizens (Specifically BPL and those with age-related disabilities)**
*Impact:*
Senior citizens aged 60 years and above are the direct beneficiaries of the schemes, receiving financial assistance, assistive devices, and healthcare services.
*Action Required:*
Understand eligibility criteria and apply for benefits under the relevant schemes.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: Primary ministry implementing schemes for the welfare of senior citizens.
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): Scheme under which Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is implemented
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): Pension scheme providing financial assistance to eligible senior citizens.
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): Scheme providing assistive devices to BPL senior citizens with age-related disabilities.
National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE): Programme providing geriatric healthcare services at district hospitals and Community Health Centres.