Key Details
The Union Cabinet’s 14 October 2026 approval combines a five-year extension and renaming of an existing programme with a substantial change to one of its benefits: the disability pension.
Provision | Approved Position |
|---|---|
Programme | National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) continues as Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana for 2026–27 to 2030–31, with a total outlay of ₹53,428 crore |
Disability eligibility | Required disability level falls from 80% to 40%; eligibility extends from birth instead of starting at age 18 |
Central disability pension | ₹375 a month for ages 0–79, up from ₹300; ₹625 for ages 80 and above, up from ₹500 |
Other benefits | Old-age and widow pensions and the family benefit scheme continue in their existing form; the component schemes are renamed |
Coverage and timing | The Cabinet says the programme will benefit 3.20 crore people across all 36 States and Union Territories. Revised disability-pension guidelines are to be issued and implemented within three months |
Disability Support Is the Substantive Reform
Under the existing disability-pension rules, a person generally had to be at least 18 years old and have 80% disabilityto qualify. The approved Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana uses the 40% benchmark-disability threshold recognised in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and removes the minimum age.
This brings people with certified disabilities between 40% and 79% into the eligibility range and allows eligible children to receive support from birth. The programme remains assistance for below-poverty-line households: the lower disability threshold does not make it a universal disability pension.
A Higher Central Payment Does Not Mean the Same Pension Everywhere
The new monthly central amounts are 25% higher than the previous disability-pension rates. The increase applies to disability support; the Cabinet has not announced corresponding increases to the old-age or widow pension rates.
States and Union Territories add different amounts to the central pension. A July 2026 parliamentary reply put these state top-ups at ₹50–₹5,700 a month across NSAP pensions. The approved central rate is therefore not necessarily the total amount a beneficiary receives, and the overall level of support will continue to vary by location.
The New Rules Still Need to Be Put into Effect
The Cabinet has approved the changes, but its release says revised guidelines will be issued and implemented within three months. That distinction matters for families considering eligibility: the approval sets the new policy, while the guidelines and state-level administration will govern enrolment and payments.
What Is Benchmark Disability?
In this context, benchmark disability means a specified disability assessed at 40% or more under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Applicants must have the required certification; the threshold alone does not establish eligibility for this poverty-targeted pension.
Policy Relevance
The reform closes a conspicuous gap between the 40% disability threshold used in the disability-rights frameworkand the pension’s older 80% rule. It also recognises that disability-related household costs can begin in childhood, not only at working age.
For administrators, wider eligibility makes certification, identification of eligible households and timely enrolmentmore consequential. For policymakers assessing the benefit, coverage should be considered alongside the actual pension received after state top-ups and whether payments arrive regularly. A larger eligible population is an important change, but it is not by itself evidence that disability-related costs are adequately covered.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: As the new eligibility rules take effect, how will governments identify and enrol eligible children and adults while tracking payment timeliness and the total pension received across States?
Follow the Full Cabinet Press Release Here: Cabinet Approves Continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme for Five Years.