**Executive Summary**
This report outlines the central government’s social security initiatives for senior citizens from Financial Year (FY) 2020-21 to 2024-25. It details the implementation of the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) and the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), emphasizing financial assistance and institutional support. Key outcomes include the distribution of over ₹32,000 crores in pensions and the mandatory requirement for third-party evaluations before each financial cycle.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY)**
* Functioning as an umbrella scheme, AVYAY benefited 37,77,133 senior citizens across India between FY 2020-21 and FY 2024-25.
* The Integrated Programme for the Senior Citizens (IPSrC), a component of AVYAY, received a total funding release of ₹532.45 Crores over the same five-year period.
**Financial Assistance (IGNOAPS)**
* Administered under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), the scheme provides monthly pensions based on age:
* **Ages 60-79:** ₹200 per month.
* **Ages 80 and above:** ₹500 per month.
* Total pension disbursements from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 amounted to ₹32,409 Crores.
**Institutional Support for Senior Citizen Homes**
* The government provides recurring and non-recurring grants to organizations managing senior citizen homes in X, Y, and Z category cities.
* **25-Bedded Homes:** Annual recurring grants range from approximately ₹24.38 lakh to ₹25.04 lakh depending on city category, plus a non-recurring grant of ₹3,09,105.
* **50-Bedded Homes:** Annual recurring grants range from approximately ₹41.12 lakh to ₹42.11 lakh, plus a non-recurring grant of ₹4,12,140.
**Monitoring and Evaluation**
* Mandatory third-party evaluations are conducted prior to the start of each Financial Cycle to assess scheme effectiveness.
* Future performance targets are established based on the findings and recommendations of these evaluations.
**Impact Analysis**
**Senior Citizens**
**Impact**
They receive direct financial aid through monthly pensions and access to residential care via government-funded senior citizen homes.
**Action Required**
Eligible individuals must enroll in the IGNOAPS or AVYAY schemes to receive benefits.
**Implementing Organizations (NGOs/Institutions)**
**Impact**
These entities receive substantial recurring and non-recurring grants to maintain 25-bedded and 50-bedded homes.
**Action Required**
Organizations must ensure the maintenance of homes and comply with the bed-capacity standards according to their city’s classification (X, Y, or Z).
**Government Authorities (Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment)**
**Impact**
Responsible for the strategic oversight and funding of umbrella welfare schemes.
**Action Required**
Authorities must conduct mandatory third-party evaluations and adjust implementation targets before the commencement of each new financial cycle.
Key Entities Referenced
Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY): An umbrella scheme implemented for the welfare of senior citizens across the country.
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): A component of NSAP providing monthly financial assistance to senior citizens aged 60 and above.
Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC): A component of the AVYAY scheme that provides grants to organizations for the maintenance of senior citizen homes.
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): A welfare program implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development which includes old age pension schemes.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The primary ministry responsible for implementing and evaluating welfare schemes for senior citizens.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
SOCIAL SECURITY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
Posted On: 01 APR 2026 4:24PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing an umbrella scheme, namely,
AtalVayoAbhyudayYojana (AVYAY), for the welfare of the senior citizens across the country. A total of
37,77,133 beneficiaries have benefited during the last five years i.e., from Financial Year(FY) 2020-21 to
2024-25, under the said scheme.
The Ministry of Rural Development implements the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).
Under, one of the components of NSAP, namely, Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme
(IGNOAPS) financial assistance of ₹ 200/- per month to persons in the age group of 60-79 years and ₹
500/- per month to persons of 80 years and above is provided. The pension amount released during the last
five years (FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25) under the IGNOAPS is Rs. 32,409 Crores.
Under the Integrated Programme for the Senior Citizens (IPSrC), a component of the AVYAY Scheme, a
recurring amount of Rs. 25,04,355, Rs. 24,64,755 and Rs. 24,38,355 is given to the organizations for
running and maintenance of the 25-bedded Senior Citizen Homes in X, Y and Z category of cities. A
recurring amount of Rs. 42,11,228, Rs. 41,51,282 and Rs. 41,12,228 is given to the organizations for
running and maintenance of the 50-bedded Senior Citizen Homes in the X, Y and Z category of cities.
X, Y and Z are the three categories of cities for drawing of the House Rent Allowance in the Central
Government.
A non-recurring grant of Rs. 3,09,105 for 25-bedded Senior Citizen Home and Rs. 4,12,140 is provided
for the 50-bedded Senior Citizen Home in all the three categories of the cities (X, Y and Z).
An amount of Rs. 532.45 Crores has been released under the IPSrC component of AVYAY Scheme during
the last five years (FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25).
The Government implements various schemes aimed at the welfare of senior citizens, which are
periodically reviewed to ensure effective implementation and enhanced outreach. The Third-party
evaluations are mandatorily conducted before the commencement of each Financial Cycle to assess the
functioning of these schemes. The targets are fixed on the basis of the findings and recommendations of
such evaluations.
This information is given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri B.L. Verma,
in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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