Parliament Question: Beneficiaries of NSAP

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3820 ANSWERED ON 11/08/2026 BENEFICIARIES OF NSAP 3820. Shri Asaduddin Owaisi: Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that disbursement of pensions under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) has reportedly been delayed or stopped for a large number of beneficiaries since January 2026 due to technical issues, if so, the details thereof; (b) the total number of beneficiaries affected due to delay, rejection or non-disbursement of NSAP pension since January 2026 along with the reasons identified for the same, States and UT-wise; (c) whether such disruptions were caused due to Aadhaar-related issues, DBT/PFMS failures, banking errors, beneficiary data mismatches, or any other technical reasons, if so, the details thereof; and (d) the steps taken by the government, including directions issued to States and UTs for alternative modes of pension disbursement, to ensure that no eligible elderly persons, widows and persons with disabilities are denied their pension entitlement? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN) (a) & (b): During the last quarter of FY 2025–26, funds amounting to Rs. 3,299.93 crore were released to States/UTs under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). With effect from 2026–27, funds under NSAP are being released through SNA-SPARSH mechanism. Under this mechanism, States/UTs with legislature, after onboarding on SNA-SPARSH, utilize funds against the Mother Sanction issued by the Ministry. The Ministry has issued Mother Sanction amounting to Rs. 5572.33 Crore for the first installment of 2026-27 to all the States/UTs. Page 1 of 2Temporary difficulties in release of payments owing to migration of NSAP into SNA-SPARSH were resolved after detailed consultation and technical support and release was restored in the fourth quarter of 2025-26 with release of Rs. 3,299.93 crore during this period. (c) & (d): At the time of initiation of payment, prescribed system- based validation checks are carried out to ensure that benefits are credited to the intended beneficiaries and to prevent leakages. Payment failures, wherever reported, are addressed promptly through necessary corrective action by the concerned authorities. States/UTs are expected to ensure that no beneficiary is denied his or her pension for the reasons that she/he has inactive or frozen bank account and/or Aadhaar number or other technical reasons. The Ministry extends necessary support to the States/UTs for resolution of technical issues. As per the guidelines of NSAP, the responsibility for identification/selection of beneficiaries, verification of applications, sanctioning, maintenance/deletion of beneficiary data and last mile disbursal of pension to the beneficiaries vests with the respective States/UTs. The States/UTs are expected to develop an effective and proactive strategy sensitive to the special needs of the beneficiaries to ensure that no beneficiary is denied his or her pension. ***** Page 2 of 2