NSAP Expands Social Security Net as Record Allocation Boosts Rural Employment and Welfare
NSAP Expands Social Security Net as Record Allocation Boosts Rural Employment and Welfare
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) caters to 3.09 crore BPL beneficiaries with scheme-wise ceiling/cap on the number of beneficiaries for each State/UT. Details of fund released under NSAP schemes during the last three years is given below:
Financial Year
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
Release (Rs. in crore)
9652.00
9491.11
9652.00
As per NSAP guidelines, States/UTs are also encouraged to provide top-ups over and above the central assistance. States/UT provide top-ups from their own resources.
NSAP, a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme, was launched with an objective of providing a basic level of financial support to most vulnerable group of citizens. Funds under NSAP are released to States/UTs based on the number of beneficiaries digitized or State/UT-wise cap, whichever is lower. Thereafter, pensions are disbursed to beneficiaries at district/panchayat level by the State/UT. Funds released under NSAP schemes to the States of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand for the last three years are given at Annexure. As per NSAP guidelines, States/UTs are also encouraged to provide top-ups over and above the central assistance. Presently, States/UTs are adding top-ups ranging from Rs. 50/- to Rs. 5700/- per month per beneficiary under the pension schemes of NSAP. As a result, NSAP pensioners are getting monthly pension on an average of Rs. 1100/- in several States/ UTs.
The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, provides for one hundred and twenty-five days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
As per Sub-section (4) of Section 22 of the Act, the Central Government shall determine the State-wise normative allocation for each state based on objective parameters as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
As per Section 22 of the Act, the Scheme implemented under the Act shall be a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and the fund-sharing pattern between the Central Government and the State Government shall be 90:10 for the North-Eastern States, Himalayan States and Union Territory (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir) and 60:40 for all other States and Union Territories with legislature.
For the financial year 2026–27, a Central share provision of ₹95,692.31 crore has been made for the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), representing the largest allocation ever for rural employment programme at Budget Estimate Stage. With the inclusion of the corresponding estimated State share, the total programme outlay is likely to exceed ₹1.51 lakh crore, which is expected to significantly accelerate rural transformation, large-scale employment generation and income enhancement in rural areas.
The guidelines of NSAP provides for implementing authorities to adhere to a policy of prioritising in favour of those applicants whose socio-economic and health conditions is vulnerable.
From time to time, various impact assessment and evaluation studies have been carried out to assess the impact of NSAP schemes by the Ministry and NITI Aayog. The assessments indicate satisfactory implementation at the grassroots level, with most beneficiaries expressing overall satisfaction with the processes of selection, sanction, and disbursement of pensions. The studies also find that pensions are primarily used to meet essential needs such as food and healthcare. At the same time, they have recommended further strengthening of the programme through measures such as improving adequacy of assistance, ensuring timely and regular payments, enhancing beneficiary verification and monitoring systems etc.
Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4003 to be answered on 17.03.2026 regarding FUND TO NSAP
Funds released under NSAP schemes to the States of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand for the last three years
(Rs. in. lakh)
STATE
FY 2022-23
FY 2023-24
FY 2024-25
Bihar
134126.33
147310.6
139068.46
Jharkhand
40920.91
27658.89
32478.8
Madhya Pradesh
101039.78
82790.75
88977.39
Uttar Pradesh
183517.67
139301.47
194738.35
This information was given by the Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.