Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Rural Development on 4th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) to provide financial and food security to 3.09 crore vulnerable beneficiaries from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The program utilizes five sub-schemes to support the elderly, widows, persons with disabilities, and bereaved households through pensions, lump-sum assistance, and food grains. The provided data details state-wise fund releases and beneficiary caps for the period spanning 2021 to 2026.
Key Points / Main Content
Program Objectives and Sub-Schemes
NSAP provides a basic level of financial support to vulnerable sections, specifically elderly persons, widows, divyangjan (persons with disabilities), and bereaved BPL households.
The program consists of five sub-schemes: National Old Age Pension Scheme, National Widow Pension Scheme, National Disability Pension Scheme, National Family Benefit Scheme, and Annapurna.
The National Family Benefit Scheme provides a one-time lump sum payment to BPL families upon the death of the primary breadwinner.
The Annapurna scheme provides food grains to eligible senior citizens who are not currently receiving an old age pension.
Financial Allocations (Annexure-I)
Total funds released nationwide for the program were Rs. 9,435.23 crore in 2023-24, Rs. 9,631.89 crore in 2024-25, and Rs. 8,844.31 crore in 2025-26.
Large states such as Uttar Pradesh (Rs. 1,543.86 crore) and Bihar (Rs. 1,472.29 crore) received the highest funding allocations in the 2025-26 period.
Some regions, including Goa and several Union Territories like Chandigarh and Puducherry, are listed with 0.00 funds released for the reported years.
Beneficiary Coverage (Annexure-II)
The program operates under a "State/UT cap" which limits the maximum number of beneficiaries eligible for support in each region.
The total national beneficiary cap for the 2023-24 to 2025-26 period is set at 3,01,06,747 individuals.
Uttar Pradesh has the highest beneficiary cap at over 5.9 million, followed by Bihar at approximately 3.9 million.
Impact Analysis
Vulnerable BPL Populations (Elderly, Widows, and Divyangjan)Impact
These groups receive essential financial pensions to supplement their subsistence and strengthen their social security. Those not covered by pensions may receive nutritional support through food grains via the Annapurna scheme.
Action Required
Eligible individuals must ensure they are registered within their state’s BPL list and meet the specific criteria for the relevant sub-scheme.
Bereaved BPL HouseholdsImpact
Families who lose their primary breadwinner receive immediate financial relief through a one-time lump sum payment to mitigate the sudden loss of income.
Action Required
Bereaved families must apply for the National Family Benefit Scheme following the death of the primary breadwinner.
State and Union Territory GovernmentsImpact
States are provided with federal funds to implement social welfare; however, they are restricted by a "State/UT cap" on the total number of beneficiaries they can enroll.
Action Required
State authorities must manage the distribution of funds and food grains within the allocated budget and adhere to the beneficiary ceilings defined by the central government.
Key Entities Referenced
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): A centrally sponsored social security scheme providing financial assistance to elderly persons, widows, and persons with disabilities from vulnerable households.
Ministry of Rural Development: The nodal government ministry responsible for the implementation, oversight, and fund release for the National Social Assistance Programme.
National Family Benefit Scheme: A sub-scheme under NSAP that provides one-time lump sum financial assistance to BPL households following the death of the primary breadwinner.
Annapurna Scheme: A welfare initiative within NSAP that provides food grains to senior citizens who are eligible for but not currently receiving social security pensions.
Below Poverty Line (BPL): The primary socio-economic eligibility criterion used to identify families entitled to receive benefits and financial support under the NSAP.
Ministry of Rural Development
IMPLEMENTATION OF NSAP
प्रव तथ: 04 AUG 2026 4:34PM by PIB Delhi
The Government is implementing National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) with an objective of
providing a basic level of financial support to the most vulnerable sections of society - elderly persons,
widows, divyangjan and bereaved households belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. NSAP
comprises five sub-schemes i.e. National Old Age Pension Scheme, National Widow Pension Scheme,
National Disability Pension Scheme, National Family Benefit Scheme and Annapurna.
Under the scheme, eligible elderly persons, widows and divyangjan are provided financial assistance in
the form of pension to supplement their means of subsistence and strengthen social security. In the event
of the death of the primary breadwinner of a BPL household, one-time lump sum financial assistance is
provided to the bereaved family under the National Family Benefit Scheme. Annapurna scheme provides
food grains to senior citizens who though eligible are not receiving pension under National Old Age
Pension Scheme. NSAP caters to 3.09 crore beneficiaries with a scheme-wise ceiling for each State/UT on
the number of beneficiaries.
State/UT-wise details of funds released under NSAP, including to Tamil Nadu, during the last three years
are given at Annexure-I.
State/UT-wise total number of beneficiaries (State/UT cap) under NSAP including Tamil Nadu during the
last five years, is given at Annexure-II.
ANNEXURE-I
(Rs. in crore)
Sl. No. States/UTs Funds released
2023-24 2024-25 2025-26
1 Andhra Pradesh 407.41 354.49 364.13
2 Bihar 1473.11 1390.68 1472.29
3 Chhattisgarh 277.54 375.26 237.71
4 Goa 0.00 0.00 0.005 Gujarat 207.11 207.55 153.97
6 Haryana 0.00 10.70 39.95
7 Himachal Pradesh 90.19 0.00 105.19
8 Jharkhand 276.59 324.79 335.77
9 Karnataka 450.52 113.93 631.12
10 Kerala 602.14 131.24 346.82
11 Madhya Pradesh 827.91 889.77 754.21
12 Maharashtra 0.00 534.13 0.00
13 Odisha 685.47 549.53 425.26
14 Punjab 15.41 22.88 21.88
15 Rajasthan 305.20 608.67 290.04
16 Tamil Nadu 675.95 640.77 440.49
17 Telangana 166.66 0.00 233.45
18 Uttar Pradesh 1393.01 1947.38 1543.86
19 Uttarakhand 89.13 111.85 131.45
20 West Bengal 1003.18 796.40 816.59
NE States
21 Arunachal Pradesh 9.05 0.00 0.00
22 Assam 289.81 319.19 259.22
23 Manipur 16.36 21.94 22.62
24 Meghalaya 21.69 21.81 22.90
29 Mizoram 10.62 14.01 6.7426 Nagaland 17.15 30.58 31.14
27 Sikkim 0.00 0.00 0.00
28 Tripura 44.00 56.13 55.83
Union Territories
29 A&N Islands 0.00 0.00 0.00
30 Chandigarh 0.00 0.00 0.00
31 D&N Haveli and D&D 0.00 0.00 0.00
32 NCT Delhi 0.00 117.83 65.12
33 Jammu & Kashmir 80.01 34.64 35.04
34 Ladakh 0.00 5.74 1.49
35 Lakshadweep 0.00 0.00 0.00
36 Puducherry 0.00 0.00 0.00
TOTAL 9435.23 9631.89 8844.31
ANNEXURE-II
Sl. States/UTs Year-wise no. of beneficiaries (State/UT cap)
No.
2021-22 & 2022-23 2023-24 to 2025-26
1 Andhra Pradesh 943567 945886
2 Bihar 3793182 3955306
3 Chhattisgarh 949940 892943
4 Goa 21912 13885
5 Gujarat 843333 9276486 Haryana 331423 351410
7 Himachal Pradesh 120156 116689
8 Jharkhand 1311109 1291668
9 Karnataka 1493909 1414586
10 Kerala 692687 850814
11 Madhya Pradesh 2236789 2254295
12 Maharashtra 1534987 1247954
13 Odisha 2062652 2058656
14 Punjab 252372 140904
15 Rajasthan 1147549 1181880
16 Tamil Nadu 1884654 1939303
17 Telangana 674347 689407
18 Uttar Pradesh 5592696 5906697
19 Uttarakhand 354005 236143
20 West Bengal 2176085 2088825
21 Arunachal Pradesh 34485 6639
22 Assam 872830 859055
23 Manipur 65764 64640
24 Meghalaya 88228 66097
29 Mizoram 27773 27721
26 Nagaland 49745 51314
27 Sikkim 19024 1902928 Tripura 162565 155884
29 A&N Islands 7815 676
30 Chandigarh 6337 5044
31 D&N Haveli and D&D 11195 11292
32 NCT Delhi 164355 157090
33 Jammu & Kashmir 143477 140717
34 Ladakh 7406 7260
35 Lakshadweep 730 302
36 Puducherry 29040 29088
TOTAL 30108123 30106747
This information was given by the Minister of State for Rural Development SHRI KAMLESHPASWANin a
written reply in Lok Sabha today.
*****
RC/PU
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2294315) आगंतुक पटल : 855
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही