NSAP Renamed, Disability Pension Criteria Eased

The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) started on 15 August 1995. It was how the Centre answered its duty under Article 41 of the Constitution. Article 41 is a Directive Principle of State Policy. This means it is a guiding rule for governance. Courts cannot enforce it directly. Article 41 directs the State to provide public assistance in old age, sickness and disablement, within what the State can afford. NSAP is a fully centrally funded scheme. This means NSAP gives 100% central assistance to below-poverty-line households. A basic pension reaches people at the same central rate across every state. This is different from many other centrally sponsored schemes. In those schemes, states must pay part of the cost.

Over three decades, NSAP grew into several pension sub-schemes. One scheme is for old people. One is for widows. One is for persons with disabilities. One is a one-time family benefit. This benefit is paid when a household's main earner dies suddenly. Many of these schemes carried the name of a former Prime Minister. This naming pattern was common for welfare schemes of that time. The Union Cabinet has now approved that the programme will continue for five years. The period is 2026-27 to 2030-31. The outlay is ₹53,428 crore. Along with this extension, the scheme and its components have been renamed. The rules for the disability pension have been substantially revised.

The disability pension itself started in February 2009. It was launched as a separate scheme. It originally required a person to be certified with 80% or more disability. This standard came from an older law's definition of 'severe disability'. This high bar excluded many people. These people had genuine, serious disabilities. But they did not reach that 80% threshold.