NSAP - Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme

The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is one of the five sub-schemes of the National Social Assistance Programme, Ministry of Rural Development. Under this scheme, persons belonging to BPL households and 60 years or above in age are eligible to apply. This program is being implemented in rural areas as well as urban areas. The Government of India, on 15th August 1995, introduced the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) as a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme targeting the destitute, defined as any person who has little or no regular means of subsistence from his/her own source of income or through financial support from family members or other sources. > The NSAP at present includes five sub-schemes as its components- a) Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) b) Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) c) Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) d) National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) e) Annapurna Scheme > Objectives of NSAP- 1. Provides social assistance benefits to poor households in the case of death, maternity, or old age of the breadwinner. 2. Ensure minimum national standards, in addition to the benefits that the states are currently providing or might provide in the future. 3. Ensure uniform social protection for the beneficiaries across the country without interruption. > Expansion to cover all eligible BPL persons- In 2007, the scheme was expanded to cover all eligible persons Below Poverty Line (BPL).