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

What is the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme?

The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is a social security pension run by the Ministry of Rural Development as one of the five components of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). NSAP was launched on 15 August 1995 to give effect to the Directive Principles of the Constitution that require the State to provide public assistance to citizens in old age, sickness and want.

According to the NSAP framework, IGNOAPS pays a monthly pension to citizens aged 60 years and above who belong to households living below the poverty line. The central government contributes Rs 200 per month for beneficiaries aged 60 to 79, and Rs 500 per month for those aged 80 and above. The pension is credited directly to the beneficiary's bank or post office account through Direct Benefit Transfer.

IGNOAPS replaced the older National Old Age Pension Scheme in 2007. The key change was the eligibility test: the old scheme was limited to "destitute" elderly people with no regular means of support, while IGNOAPS opened the pension to any BPL person aged 60 or above, whether or not they have family.

Key features

• Centrally-sponsored scheme with the central share fixed by the Government of India.
• Almost all states and union territories add a top-up, so the pension actually paid is usually higher than the central share alone.
• Benefit is paid monthly by DBT into an Aadhaar-seeded account.
• Beneficiaries are identified and verified by state governments using the BPL list.

Who is eligible for IGNOAPS?

You can apply if:

• You are an Indian citizen aged 60 years or above.
• Your household is on the state's Below Poverty Line list.
• You are not already drawing another social security pension that the state bars from being combined with IGNOAPS.

You cannot apply if:

• You are below 60 years of age.
• Your household is not classified as Below Poverty Line.
• You are drawing a government service pension or another pension that your state rules treat as disqualifying.

Because IGNOAPS is delivered by the states, the exact BPL cut-off and any additional state conditions differ across the country. The one non-negotiable central condition is the combination of age (60+) and BPL status.

How much pension does IGNOAPS provide?

The central government's contribution is:

On top of this, states add their own share. In several states the combined old-age pension runs to Rs 1,000-2,500 a month or more, but that top-up is set by the state and is not part of the central IGNOAPS guarantee. Always confirm the figure for your own state with the local social welfare office.

What documents are required for IGNOAPS?

How to apply for IGNOAPS

1. Obtain the NSAP/IGNOAPS application form from your gram panchayat (rural areas) or your municipality or ward office (urban areas). The form is also available at the block or district social welfare office.
2. Fill in your personal details, age, BPL details and bank/post office account number, and attach the age proof, BPL certificate, Aadhaar and account details.
3. Submit the completed form to the gram panchayat secretary, ward officer or the designated block/district officer. In states with an online portal, upload the same documents on the state's social security or e-district website.
4. The application is verified against the BPL list and sanctioned by the district authority; approved beneficiaries are added to the NSAP-MIS and pension begins by DBT.
5. Track the status through the sanctioning office, and report any missed credit to the same office or the state helpline.

How is the pension paid and tracked?

Once sanctioned, the pension is credited monthly by Direct Benefit Transfer to the beneficiary's Aadhaar-seeded account. States maintain the beneficiary data on the NSAP Management Information System (nsap.nic.in), and beneficiaries or their families can ask the sanctioning office to check the record if a payment is missed. Because disbursement is handled state by state, grievances about a stopped or delayed pension must be raised with the state's Rural Development or Social Welfare department rather than with a central call centre.

Help and grievance redressal

• Portal: nsap.nic.in (National Social Assistance Programme MIS)
• Where to complain: the sanctioning gram panchayat, municipality, or the district/state Social Welfare or Rural Development office
• Many states run their own social-security pension helplines; ask at the local office for the number that applies to you.

There is no fee to apply for IGNOAPS, and no agent is needed. If anyone demands money to "get your pension sanctioned", report it to the block or district office.