Cabinet expands disability pension coverage to 27 lakh, raises monthly

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The Centre has renamed Indira Gandhi’s old-age, widow and disability pension schemes under new Pradhan Mantri schemes, alongside renaming the National Family Benefit Scheme

By BL New Delhi Bureau

Updated - October 16, 2026 at 05:22 PM. | New Delhi

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw | Photo Credit: ARUN SHARMA

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday revised eligibility criteria and assistance rates for disability pensioners, aiming to cover as many as 27 lakh people, up from 8.33 lakh beneficiaries. The Cabinet also approved continuing and renaming the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) until 2030-31, with an outlay of ₹53,428 crore over the next five years, starting from the current fiscal year.

Disability pension coverage to expand to 27 lakh

Briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the NSAP scheme has been renamed “Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana”. He said that after the revised criteria, as many as 27 lakh people would be able to get disability pension benefits.

Two major changes have been made to the pension for disabled persons: the minimum age of 18 years for inclusion has been abolished, and persons with 40 per cent disability can also receive the monthly pension, down from 80 per cent.

Monthly disability pension rates increased

In addition, the ₹300/month pension for Divyangjan (disabled persons) between 18 and 79 years has been increased to ₹375 for up to 79 years from birth. Similarly, the ₹500/month pension for aged 80 years and above has been increased to ₹625.

The government said in a statement that it will implement the revised eligibility criteria, beneficiary coverage, and assistance rates under the disability pension scheme within three months of issuing the guidelines. But it said the pension schemes for the aged and widows, and the family benefit scheme, will continue in their existing form.

Existing pension schemes renamed

The government renamed the “Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme” as “Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana”, the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme as “Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana”, and the “Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme” as “Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana”. Similarly, the National Family Benefit Scheme will become the “Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana.”

NSAP extended until 2030-31 with ₹53,428 crore outlay

Launched on August 15, 1995, the NSAP assists poor households as part of the Centre’s responsibility under Article 41 of the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution. The Centre provides 100 per cent central assistance under the programme to ensure uniform support availability across the country, and the pension is transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts.

The Cabinet’s approval is expected to benefit 3.20 crore beneficiaries across all 36 states and Union territories.

Disability pension eligibility aligned with 2016 Act

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 has changed the eligibility criteria for disability pension and linked it to the ‘Benchmark Disability’ of 40 per cent, the government said. In addition, it mandated disability-related assistance to be invariably 25 per cent higher than similarly placed schemes proposed for other categories.

Published on October 14, 2026

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