National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
INTRODUCTION: What is NSAP?
The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 1995 that provides financial assistance to poor (BPL) households during times of vulnerability — like old age, widowhood, disability, or death of the breadwinner.
🔸 It is not an employment scheme.
🔸 It is a direct social support programme — rooted in empathy and constitutional morality.
CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS
✅ Article 41 of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP):
“The State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity, make effective provision for public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement…”
Thus, NSAP is a constitutional response to human vulnerability.
OBJECTIVE
“To ensure a minimum national standard of social assistance to vulnerable persons (elderly, widows, disabled, etc.) in addition to the benefits provided by individual States.”
So even if a state doesn’t have a good pension system, NSAP guarantees at least a basic safety net.
COVERAGE & BENEFICIARY IDENTIFICATION
- Target Group: BPL (Below Poverty Line) households
- Area: Both rural and urban areas, all States and UTs
- Identification:
- Based on SECC 2011 (Socio-Economic Caste Census)
- Before SECC, legacy BPL lists were used.
MONITORING MECHANISM
- Social Audit at local level
- Annual Verification by National Level Monitors (NLMs)
This dual system ensures transparency and accountability in disbursement.
COMPONENTS OF NSAP: The 5 Sub-Schemes
Let’s break it into two parts:
Pension Schemes (3)
These are monthly pension schemes.
| Sub-Scheme | Eligibility | Central Assistance |
| IGNOAPS (Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme) | BPL individuals aged 60+ | ₹200/month (60–79 yrs) ₹500/month (80+ yrs) |
| IGNWPS (Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme) | BPL widows aged 40+ | ₹300/month (40–79 yrs) ₹500/month (80+ yrs) |
| IGNDPS (Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme) | BPL individuals aged 18+ with 80%+ disability | ₹300/month (18–79 yrs) ₹500/month (80+ yrs) |
✅ These amounts may appear low, but they are central contributions only. States are free to add more from their own schemes.
Non-Pension Schemes (2)
| Sub-Scheme | Eligibility | Benefit |
| NFBS (National Family Benefit Scheme) | Death of primary breadwinner (aged 18–59) in a BPL family | ₹20,000 one-time assistance |
| Annapurna Scheme | Senior citizens eligible for IGNOAPS but not receiving pension | 10 kg of free food grains per month |
So, if an elderly person is eligible but not covered under IGNOAPS (due to cap or documentation issues), they can still get Annapurna food grains.
SIGNIFICANCE OF NSAP
- Upholds the dignity and survival rights of India’s most vulnerable.
- Functions as a fallback safety net, especially for those excluded from other schemes.
- Reinforces the idea of welfare state, as envisioned in the Constitution.
🔚 Final Thought:
“When the state gives ₹200 or ₹300 as pension, it’s not merely cash assistance — it is the symbolic recognition of the citizen’s suffering, and a minimal guarantee of care from the Republic. NSAP, despite its modest quantum, is an ethical commitment.”