**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 474, answered on March 2nd, 2026, regarding the implementation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS). It details the extent of NSAP implementation across States and Union Territories (UTs), the number of beneficiaries, and the central assistance released over the past three years. The NSAP is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **NSAP Implementation:**
* The NSAP is implemented in all States and UTs.
* The scheme comprises five sub-schemes, including pension schemes for the elderly, widows, and disabled individuals, as well as family benefit and Annapurna schemes.
* The scheme caters to 3.09 crore Below Poverty Line (BPL) beneficiaries, with State/UT-wise ceilings on the number of beneficiaries.
* **Responsibilities and Fund Release:**
* Implementation, beneficiary identification/verification, pension disbursal, and beneficiary verification are the responsibility of the States/UTs.
* Fund release is contingent upon receipt of proposals from the concerned State/UT, submitted as per scheme guidelines and Ministry of Finance (MoF) instructions.
* Funds are released based on the number of eligible beneficiaries with digitized databases on the NSAP-PPS portal or State cap, whichever is less.
* **Fund Release Issues:**
* Funds could not be released to Goa and the UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Lakshadweep due to non-receipt of complete proposals for many years.
* **Financial Data:**
* State/UT-wise beneficiary ceilings are provided in Annexure-I.
* State/UT-wise fund releases under NSAP and NFBS for the last three years (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25) are given separately in Annexure-II.
**Impact Analysis**
**States/UTs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementation, beneficiary management, and ensuring timely pension disbursal. The scheme's success depends on State/UT proposals being complete and submitted according to guidelines.
* **Action Required:** Submit complete proposals as per guidelines to receive central assistance. Ensure accurate identification and verification of beneficiaries.
**Beneficiaries**
* **Impact:** Entitled to receive benefits under NSAP and NFBS based on eligibility criteria and program guidelines. Timely disbursal of pension and benefits is crucial for their welfare.
* **Action Required:** Ensure all required documentation is provided for verification and remain updated about any program changes or requirements.
**Ministry of Rural Development**
* **Impact:** Oversees the NSAP and NFBS and is responsible for policy guidance, funding allocation, and monitoring the scheme's implementation.
* **Action Required:** Ensure effective monitoring of State/UT compliance, streamline fund release processes, and review program effectiveness.
Key Entities Referenced
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): A centrally sponsored scheme providing social assistance, including old age pensions, widow pensions, disability pensions, and family benefits.
National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS): A sub-scheme under NSAP providing a lump-sum benefit to BPL households on the death of the primary breadwinner.
States and Union Territories: Locations (India's States/UTs) where NSAP and NFBS are to be implemented, impacting fund allocation, beneficiary numbers, and implementation responsibility.
Ministry of Rural Development: The central ministry overseeing the implementation and functioning of NSAP.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 474
ANSWERED ON 03/02/2026
IMPLEMENTATION OF NSAP AND NFBS
474. Shri Anto Antony:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is
fully implemented in all States and Union Territories, if not, the
reasons therefor, State and UT-wise;
(b) the number of States and UTs presently not implementing or
partially implementing NSAP and the National Family Benefit
Scheme (NFBS);
(c) the number of eligible beneficiaries who have not received
NSAP and NFBS benefits due to partial or non-implementation,
State and UT-wise; and
(d) the total Central assistance released and utilised under NSAP
and NFBS during the last three years, State and UT-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a) to (c): National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a 100%
funded centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) and is being implemented
in all States/UTs. The scheme consists of five sub-schemes namely
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi
National Widow Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Disability
Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Family Benefit Scheme &
Annapurna scheme. The scheme caters to 3.09 crore BPL
beneficiaries with a scheme-wise ceiling/ cap for each State/UT on
the number of beneficiaries.
As per NSAP guidelines, responsibility of implementation of NSAP
schemes, identification/ verification of beneficiaries, disbursal of
pension to beneficiaries, stoppage of pension, annual verification of
beneficiaries lie in the hand of States/UTs . Release of funds under
Page 1 of 6NSAP is contingent upon receipt of proposals from the concerned
State/UT, submitted in accordance with the scheme guidelines and
Ministry of Finance (MoF) instructions. Funds under the scheme are
released to States/UTs on the basis of number of eligible
beneficiaries whose database has been digitized on NSAP-PPS
(National Social Assistance Programme - Pension Payment System)
portal or State cap of number of beneficiaries, whichever is
less.Owing to non-receipt of proposals complete in all respects,
funds could not be released to the State of Goa and the Union
Territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and
Daman & Diu, and Lakshadweep since last many years. State/UT-
wise ceiling/cap on number of beneficiaries in these States/UTs is
given at Annexure-I.
(d): State and UT-wise fund released under pensions schemes of
NSAP and NFBS during the last three years is given separately at
Annexure-II.
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Page 2 of 6Annexure-I
Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of
LokSabhaUnstarred Question No. 474 to be answered on 03.02.2026
regarding Implementation of NSAP and NFBS
State/UT-wise cap/ceiling of beneficiaries under NSAP
State/UT State Cap/Ceiling
Goa 14305
A&N Islands 1236
D&N Haveli and D&D 11650
Lakshadweep 362
Page 3 of 6Annexure-II
Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of LokSabhaUnstarred
Question No. 474 to be answered on 03.02.2026 regarding
Implementation of NSAP and NFBS
State/UT-wise fund released under pension schemes of NSAP during
the last three years
(Rs in crore)
Sl.No. States/UTs 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
1 Andhra Pradesh 294.8691 379.325 332.0239
2 Bihar 1341.2597 1436.1712 1363.4669
3 Chhattisgarh 272.6135 277.5422 351.7923
4 Goa 0 0 0
5 Gujarat 225.494 190.585 191.0311
6 Haryana 233.0731 0 0
7 Himachal Pradesh 34.7952 87.72 0
8 Jharkhand 379.1716 276.5889 322.1857
9 Karnataka 418.8582 450.524 113.9305
10 Kerala 0 602.1392 131.2419
11 Madhya Pradesh 953.3036 819.0076 875.6552
12 Maharashtra 149.1751 0 534.1275
13 Odisha 641.9517 632.9958 517.8967
14 Punjab 0 14.0365 22.2681
15 Rajasthan 621.76395 305.2044 608.6698
16 Tamil Nadu 559.7842 666.6176 632.6006
17 Telangana 216.452 166.6637 0
18 Uttar Pradesh 1684.6482 1280.1139 1783.1442
19 Uttarakhand 118.9196 87.7143 110.0821
20 West Bengal 596.6475 940.2937 751.9962
21 Arunachal Pradesh 0 9.0459 0
22 Assam 309.55 289.809 297.2627
23 Manipur 25.5706 15.3304 21.772
24 Meghalaya 21.12885 21.6884 21.8053
25 Mizoram 10.2577 10.3158 13.4028
26 Nagaland 21.4562 16.3195 29.2062
27 Sikkim 7.9254 0 0
28 Tripura 30.033 42.9886 55.6238
29 A&N Islands 0 0 0
30 Chandigarh 0 0 0
31 D&N Haveli and D&D 0 0 0
32 NCT Delhi 0 0 116.6565
33 J & K 21.1241 80.0055 34.6391
34 Ladakh 3.3122 0 5.2198
35 Lakshadweep 0 0 0
36 Puducherry 0 0 0
TOTAL 9193.1383 9098.7461 9237.7009
Page 4 of 6State/UT-wise fund released under NFBS during the last three
years
(Rs in crore)
Sl. No. States/UTs 2022-23 2023-24 2 024-25
1 Andhra Pradesh 22.47 28.08 22.47
2 Bihar 0.00 36.93 27.22
3 Chhattisgarh 27.00 0.00 23.47
4 Goa 0.00 0.00 0.00
5 Gujarat 16.52 16.52 16.52
6 Haryana 17.13 0.00 10.70
7 Himachal Pradesh 1.06 2.47 0.00
8 J & K 0.00 0.00 0.00
9 Jharkhand 30.03 0.00 2.60
10 Karnataka 27.73 0.00 0.00
11 Kerala 0.00 0.00 0.00
12 Madhya Pradesh 57.09 8.90 14.12
13 Maharashtra 21.97 0.00 0.00
14 Odisha 38.63 52.48 31.64
15 Punjab 0.00 1.38 0.62
16 Rajasthan 0.00 0.00 0.00
17 Tamil Nadu 19.00 9.34 8.17
18 Telangana 0.00 0.00 0.00
19 Uttar Pradesh 150.53 112.90 164.24
20 Uttarakhand 0.00 1.42 1.77
21 West Bengal 25.91 62.89 44.40
22 Arunachal Pradesh 0.00 0.00 0.00
23 Assam 0.00 0.00 21.93
24 Manipur 1.72 1.03 0.16
29 Meghalaya 0.00 0.00 0.00
26 Mizoram 0.41 0.30 0.61
27 Nagaland 1.10 0.83 1.38
28 Sikkim 0.22 0.00 0.00
29 Tripura 0.00 1.01 0.51
30 A&N Islands 0.00 0.00 0.00
31 Chandigarh 0.00 0.00 0.00
32 D&N Haveli and D&D 0.00 0.00 0.00
33 NCT Delhi 0.00 0.00 1.17
34 Ladakh 0.37 0.00 0.52
35 Lakshadweep 0.00 0.00 0.00
36 Puducherry 0.00 0.00 0.00
TOTAL 458.88 336.48 394.19
Page 5 of 6*****
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