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ActiveCentral Sector SchemeLaunched 1995-08-15Verified: 2026-09-16

Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS / NSAP)

Non-contributory monthly social assistance pension for senior citizens aged 60+ belonging to below-poverty-line (BPL) households.

Government Levelcentral Government
Administering BodyMinistry of Rural Development
Beneficiary Sector
Social Welfare & Security
Applicable Jurisdiction
All India

₹Benefits & Entitlement Breakdown

Central monthly non-contributory pension assistance: Senior citizens aged 60 to 79 years receive ₹200 per month central contribution (States add state top-ups ranging from ₹400 to ₹1,800/month, making total monthly pension ₹600 to ₹2,500/month). Senior citizens aged 80 years and above receive an enhanced central pension of ₹500 per month (plus state top-up). Paid directly into the pensioner Aadhaar-linked bank or post office account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

📊Budget Allocation & Beneficiary Reach

Fiscal Budget Allocation

₹9,652 Crore (Union Budget allocation for National Social Assistance Programme)

Official Budget Document ↗
Verified Beneficiary Reach

2.21+ Crore senior citizens covered under IGNOAPS

As of: 2024-03-31PIB / Official Citation ↗

Verified Eligibility Criteria

Age Requirement:Minimum 60 years
Annual Family Income Ceiling:No gross income ceiling specified
Target Occupations:senior_citizen, all
Eligible Gender:all
Social Category / Reservation:BPL, all
Specific Operational Conditions & Exclusions:

Applicant must be aged 60 years or above. Must belong to a household living Below Poverty Line (BPL) according to criteria prescribed by the Government of India / State Government.

Required Documents Checklist

  • ✓
    Aadhaar CardMandatory

    Mandatory KYC identity proof.

  • ✓
    BPL Ration Card / BPL CertificateMandatory

    Issued by Block/Municipality establishing below-poverty-line status.

  • ✓
    Age Proof (Birth Certificate / Voter ID / Medical Certificate)Mandatory

    Establishing completion of 60 years.

  • ✓
    Aadhaar-seeded Bank / Post Office Account PassbookMandatory

    For receiving monthly DBT pension credits.

How to Apply

1. Obtain NSAP Application Form from Gram Panchayat, Block Development Office (BDO), or Municipality, or apply online via https://nsap.nic.in. 2. Fill in applicant name, father/husband name, date of birth, age, BPL card number, and bank details. 3. Attach self-attested copies of BPL card, age proof, and bank passbook. 4. Gram Panchayat / Ward Committee verifies eligibility and compiles recommendation list. 5. Sanctioning authority (Sub-Divisional Magistrate / BDO) approves pension. 6. Pension is credited monthly via DBT through the PFMS platform.

Official Government Application Portal

You will be redirected to the secure official portal: nsap.nic.in

Apply on official government website

Frequently Asked Questions (Officially Sourced)

Verified answers sourced directly from official circulars, gazettes, and portal FAQs. Never AI-invented.

Does the pension amount increase when the beneficiary reaches 80 years of age?

Yes. Central assistance increases from ₹200 to ₹500 per month when the beneficiary attains the age of 80 years.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Can a senior citizen receive state pension and central IGNOAPS simultaneously?

State pensions under NSAP are top-ups to the central baseline, so the senior citizen receives a unified combined monthly payout through DBT.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

How often is life certification required for IGNOAPS?

Beneficiaries must complete annual digital life verification (Jeevan Pramaan) or physical verification through their Gram Panchayat or Bank Mitra.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Common Rejection Reasons & Warnings

Applicant below 60 years; household not identified under BPL survey; applicant drawing another government employee service pension.

Editorial Verification & Change Log

DateFieldDescription / UpdateSource Citation
2026-09-16initial_verificationBaseline verification of IGNOAPS guidelines, BPL eligibility criteria, and NSAP DBT norms.Official Source ↗

Application Window & Deadlines

Open throughout the year (Continuous enrollment)

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Official Helpline & Nodal Offices

National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) Division, MoRD

8th Floor, NDCC-II Building, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi - 110001

Helpline: 1800-11-6446 (Toll-Free NSAP Helpline)

Jurisdiction: National (All-India)

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Verification Metadata

Last verified by Eligo researchers on 2026-09-16 against official government documentation.

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