Disability Pension (IGNDPS) Statistics: Beneficiary Cap, Funds and States

What the numbers show

The Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme is the smallest of the three NSAP pension schemes. It supports people with severe or multiple disabilities from below poverty line households, and each state has a fixed cap on how many it can enrol with central money. The caps add up to 8,33,751 beneficiaries, according to a Lok Sabha answer of 12 August 2025.

The trend over the years

Central releases have moved up and down rather than growing steadily. A Rajya Sabha answer of 8 August 2025 shows Rs 263.14 crore released in 2020-21, Rs 237.39 crore in 2021-22, Rs 278.56 crore in 2022-23, a high of Rs 310.47 crore in 2023-24 and Rs 243.74 crore in 2024-25. The budget for 2025-26 is Rs 290 crore. Funds go to each state on the basis of beneficiaries it has digitised or its cap, whichever is lower, so the release in a given year also depends on how quickly states upload their records and use earlier funds.

State differences

Bihar has the largest cap at 1,27,100, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. Some large states have small caps: Maharashtra's is 9,322. The ministry has said that if a state has more deserving people than its cap allows, it can pay them a pension from its own budget.

What the figures do not tell you

The cap is a ceiling, not a count of people actually being paid. The number receiving the pension in a state can be lower if records are not digitised or pensions have been stopped after death or migration. The figures also cover only the central share. States add top-ups of Rs 200 to Rs 5,700 a month under disability pensions, and many run separate pensions for people with lower levels of disability who are not covered here.

Where to check the live numbers

The NSAP portal at nsap.nic.in has a national dashboard with state and district beneficiary counts. State-wise caps and releases also appear in Ministry of Rural Development answers to Parliament questions on sansad.in.

How many people get the disability pension under IGNDPS?

The overall state and UT-wise cap is 8,33,751 beneficiaries, according to a Lok Sabha answer of 12 August 2025. The PIB backgrounder of November 2025 describes coverage as more than 8.33 lakh beneficiaries.

How much does the Centre spend on IGNDPS?

The Centre released Rs 243.74 crore to states and UTs in 2024-25, compared with Rs 310.47 crore in 2023-24. The 2025-26 budget for the scheme is Rs 290 crore.

Which state has the largest IGNDPS cap?

Bihar, with a cap of 1,27,100 beneficiaries. Madhya Pradesh (1,01,470) and Odisha (90,283) are next.

Is the cap different for each type of disability?

No. The ministry told the Lok Sabha that there is no category or ceiling by type of disability within a state's cap. The state picks the most deserving people who meet the rules.

What is the IGNDPS pension amount?

The central share is Rs 300 a month for people aged 18 to 79 and Rs 500 a month from age 80. States add top-ups that the ministry says range from Rs 200 to Rs 5,700 a month under disability pensions.