'Indira Gandhi' makes way for Pradhan Mantri in welfare schemes

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the renaming of three welfare schemes, replacing the Indira Gandhi prefix with Pradhan Mantri, while extending the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) until 2030-31 with a total outlay of ₹53,428 cr.

The cabinet approved the renaming of the programme and its constituent schemes, along with revisions to the eligibility criteria, coverage and rates of assistance under the Divyangjan Pension Scheme. The pension schemes for senior citizens and widows, as well as the family benefit scheme, will continue in their existing form.

According to the Union cabinet, the NSAP will now be known as the Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana. Its constituent schemes have also been renamed. The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) will now be called the Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana.


Similarly, the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) has been renamed the Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana, while the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) will now be known as the Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana.

The National Family Benefit Scheme has also been renamed as the Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana. Under the revised provisions, assistance under the Divyangjan Pension Scheme will be ₹375 for beneficiaries aged 0-79 years and ₹625 for those aged 80 years and above. The benchmark disability criterion under the scheme has been reduced to 40% from the existing 80%.