Executive Summary:
This document provides the Indian government's response to questions regarding the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS). It outlines the number of beneficiaries covered, eligibility criteria, pension amounts, and considerations for increasing the Central Government's contribution. The response was provided on August 12, 2025, in answer to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3745.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Beneficiary Coverage:**
* The overall State/UT-wise cap for the number of beneficiaries under IGNDPS is 8.33 lakh, as detailed in the annexure.
* The scheme covers beneficiaries with severe or multiple disabilities from BPL families.
* There is no specific categorization or ceiling based on the type of disability within the State/UT cap.
* States/UTs are responsible for identifying the most deserving beneficiaries based on eligibility criteria.
* **Eligibility Criteria:**
* IGNDPS, introduced in 2009, does not offer universal coverage.
* Eligible individuals must be 18 years or older, belong to a BPL family, and have severe or multiple disabilities.
* States/UTs can provide additional pension from their resources if there are more deserving beneficiaries due to fund limitations.
* **Pension Amount:**
* Central assistance is ₹300 per month per beneficiary (ages 18-79) and ₹500 per month per beneficiary (80 years and above).
* States/UTs are encouraged to provide a top-up amount equivalent to the Central Government's assistance.
* Current top-up amounts range from ₹200 to ₹5700 per month per beneficiary.
* **Central Government Contribution:**
* The government considered revising beneficiary coverage and assistance rates for the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-26).
* Due to financial constraints, the government approved the continuation of NSAP schemes in their present form.
Impact Analysis:
* **Persons with Disabilities (PwDs):**
* *Impact:* Determines eligibility and amount of pension received under IGNDPS.
* *Action Required:* Meet the eligibility criteria (severe/multiple disabilities, BPL category, age 18+) to avail benefits; contact respective State/UT authorities for enrollment.
* **State/UT Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for identifying eligible beneficiaries, distributing pension, and potentially providing top-up amounts. Subject to a limit on the number of beneficiaries.
* *Action Required:* Proactively identify deserving beneficiaries, administer the scheme within the allocated cap, and consider providing additional financial assistance.
* **Ministry of Rural Development:**
* *Impact:* Oversees the IGNDPS scheme and provides central assistance.
* *Action Required:* Continue administering the scheme within the current financial framework.
Key Entities Referenced
Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS): A social pension scheme providing financial assistance to persons with disabilities, introduced under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): A social welfare program providing financial assistance to the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities.
Shri Asaduddin Owaisi: Member of Parliament who raised a question in Lok Sabha regarding IGNDPS.
Shri Bastipati Nagaraju: Member of Parliament who raised a question in Lok Sabha regarding IGNDPS.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding IGNDPS was raised.
Ministry of Rural Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for rural development programs, including IGNDPS.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India with a specified cap of beneficiaries under IGNDPS.
Bihar: A state in India with a specified cap of beneficiaries under IGNDPS.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3745
ANSWERED ON 12/08/2025
BENEFICIARIES UNDER IGNDPS
3745. Shri Asaduddin Owaisi:
Shri Bastipati Nagaraju:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the number of beneficiaries currently covered under the Indira
Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS),
specifically for persons with disabilities and further categorized
by type of disability, State and UT-wise;
(b) the eligibility criteria for availing benefits under the said scheme
and the rationale for limiting pension coverage to only those
with 80% or more disability;
(c) the amount of pension (in absolute figures) currently provided to
the persons with disabilities under IGNDPS;
(d) whether the Government proposes to increase the Central
Government’s contribution to the disability pension component
under the scheme; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a): Under Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme
(IGNDPS), overall State/UT-wise cap of number of beneficiaries is
8.33 lakh, State/UT-wise details of which is given in Annexure.The
beneficiaries belonging to severe/ multiple disabilities from BPL
category are covered for availing assistance under the scheme.
Under the State/UT cap, there is no categorization or ceiling
prescribed based on type of disability. However, as per scheme
guidelines, it is the responsibility of the State/UT concerned to
proactively identify the most deserving beneficiary among the
disabled persons, as per the prescribed eligibility criteria.
Page 1 of 3(b): IGNDPS introduced in 2009 under National Social Assistance
Programme (NSAP) does not have universal coverage. Out of the
disabled persons, in terms of scheme guidelines, the most vulnerable
category of persons with severe or multiple disability belonging to
BPL category in the age of 18 years and above are eligible for
assistance under IGNDPS. As per guidelines, in view of the limitation
of fund available, if there are more deserving beneficiaries, the
State/UT has the option to give them pension from its own resources.
(c): The central assistance under the IGNDPS is ₹300/- per month
per beneficiary from 18 to 79 years of age and ₹ 500/- per month per
beneficiary from 80 years onwards. The States/UTs are encouraged
to provide top-up amount of at least an equivalent amount to the
assistance provided by the Central Government so that the
beneficiaries could get a decent level of assistance. At present, the
States/UTs are adding top-up amount ranging from ₹200/- to ₹ 5700/-
per month per beneficiary under disability pension scheme.
(d) & (e): While considering the continuation of NSAP schemes for
the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-26), the revision in
beneficiary coverage and rate of assistance under the schemes was
considered by the Government. However, considering the available
financial space, the Government has approved continuation of NSAP
schemes in its present form.
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Page 2 of 3Annexure
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3745 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2025
REGARDING BENEFICIARIES UNDER IGNDPS
State/UT-wise cap of beneficiaries under IGNDPS
Sl. No States/UTs IGNDPS
1 Andhra Pradesh 24412
2 Bihar 127100
3 Chhattisgarh 32085
4 Goa 466
5 Gujarat 20327
6 Haryana 16583
7 Himachal Pradesh 853
8 Jharkhand 26349
9 Karnataka 44825
10 Kerala 19285
11 Madhya Pradesh 101470
12 Maharashtra 9322
13 Odisha 90283
14 Punjab 5982
15 Rajasthan 30513
16 Tamil Nadu 64096
17 Telangana 20578
18 Uttar Pradesh 85773
19 Uttarakhand 2880
20 West Bengal 59941
NE States
21 Arunachal Pradesh 112
22 Assam 34579
23 Manipur 1005
24 Meghalaya 1558
25 Mizoram 722
26 Nagaland 1011
27 Sikkim 457
28 Tripura 2131
Union Territories
29 A&N Islands 2
30 Chandigarh 100
31 D&N Haveli and D&D 310
32 NCT Delhi 4635
33 Jammu & Kashmir 2465
34 Ladakh 219
35 Lakshadweep 51
36 Puducherry 1271
TOTAL 833751
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