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...
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. ***** Page 1 of 1