UPSC Articles
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – Policies and interventions; Welfare schemes
In news
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development recently submitted its report to the Lok Sabha.
- According to the report, the Centre must increase the “meagre” pensions provided for poor senior citizens, widows and disabled people.
Key takeaways
- The Committee observed that under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), amount of assistance ranging from ₹200 to ₹500 per month is provided under its different components.
- The panel had also previously urged the increase in these pensions in its reports on the Department of Rural Development’s (DoRD) demand for grants in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Important value additions
The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
- It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- It provides financial assistance to the elderly, widows and persons with disabilities in the form of social pensions.
- Administered by: Ministry of Rural Development
- It consists of five sub-schemes:
- Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
- Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)
- Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)
- National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
- Annapurna Scheme
