**Summary:**
Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3681, answered on August 12, 2025, addresses concerns regarding the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). The question highlights that the budgetary allocation for NSAP pensions has remained relatively stagnant since 2015-16, with a marginal increase from approximately ₹9,500 crore to ₹9,652 crore in the Budget Estimates for 2025-26. This stagnation, coupled with inflation, has resulted in a real term decline in assistance, estimated at ₹9,200 crore. The question also points out a significant decrease in NSAP's share of the total Union Budget, from 0.58% in 2014-15 to 0.19% in 2025-26.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Kamlesh Paswan, responded that a ceiling on the number of beneficiaries has been in place since the inception of NSAP in 1995. The beneficiary ceiling was last revised in 2011-12 to 3.09 crore, based on the 2001 census and the 2004-05 poverty ratio. Funds are released to States/UTs based on digitized beneficiary numbers or the State Cap, whichever is lower. The rate of assistance under NSAP schemes has remained unchanged since 2012.
A proposal for revamping NSAP, including revisions to eligibility criteria, assistance rates, and sharing arrangements with States, was considered during the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-26). However, the government approved the continuation of NSAP schemes in their existing form. Budget outlays since 2014-15 have been determined based on actual requirements, considering the total number of beneficiaries and the existing rate of assistance.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Rural Development: A department of the Government of India responsible for rural development programs.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
NSAP: National Social Assistance Programme, a social welfare program in India providing financial assistance to the elderly, widows, and disabled.
Shri E T Mohammed Basheer: Member of Parliament who raised a question about pension under NSAP.
Kamlesh Paswan: Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development.
15th Finance Commission: The Fifteenth Finance Commission of India, responsible for recommending the distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States.
census 2001: The decennial Census of India conducted in 2001.
States/UTs: The various states and union territories of India. Funds are released based on digitised beneficiary numbers or State Cap, whichever is lower.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3681
ANSWERED ON 12/08/2025
PENSION UNDER NSAP
3681. Shri E T Mohammed Basheer:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that the
budgetary allocation made for payment of pension under the
NSAP has remained stagnant at approximately 9,500 crore per
annum since 2015–16, with only a marginal increase to 9,652
crore in the Budget Estimates for 2025–26, resulting in a real-
term decline in assistance to an estimated 9,200 crore when
adjusted for inflation; and
(b) the steps taken by the Government to address the fact that the
NSAP’s share of the total Union Budget has fallen sharply from
0.58% in 2014–15 to just 0.19% in 2025–26?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a): Ceiling/Cap on number of beneficiaries is in existence under
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) since the inception of
the Programme in 1995. The ceiling of beneficiaries under NSAP
schemes was last revised to 3.09 crore in 2011-12 based on the
population figure of census 2001 and Poverty Ratio 2004-05. Also,
funds to States/UTs are released on digitized number of beneficiaries
or State Cap whichever is lower. Further, rate of assistance under
NSAP schemes is continuing unchanged since 2012.
(b): Based on various recommendations and evaluation studies, a
proposal for revamping of NSAP, which inter-alia included revision in
eligibility criteria, rate of assistance and sharing arrangement with
the States was considered during continuation of NSAP for the 15th
Finance Commission cycle (2021-26). However, Government had
approved continuation of NSAP schemes in its present form.
Therefore, annual overall Budget Outlay since 2014-15 under NSAP
has, accordingly, been sought as per actual requirements based on
total number of beneficiaries and rate of assistance.
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