New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) for five years from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a total outlay of Rs 53,428 crore — yaani about Rs 53.4 thousand crore, or roughly US$5.5 billion — and renamed it the Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a release dated October 14, 2026.

The biggest change is to disability pension. The eligibility threshold falls from 80 per cent disability to 40 per cent, in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the minimum age of 18 years is abolished, so eligible persons can receive it from birth. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters coverage would rise from 8.33 lakh to as many as 27 lakh people, The Hindu BusinessLine reported. Monthly assistance rises from Rs 300 to Rs 375 for beneficiaries up to 79 years, and from Rs 500 to Rs 625 for those aged 80 and above.

The sub-schemes are also renamed: the old-age pension becomes Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana, the widow pension becomes Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana, the disability pension becomes Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana, and the National Family Benefit Scheme becomes Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana, according to PIB. The old-age and widow pensions and the family benefit scheme otherwise continue in their existing form, and the government says revised guidelines will be issued within three months. About 3.20 crore beneficiaries across 36 states and Union Territories are expected to be covered in total.

(Sources: Press Information Bureau, Cabinet release, October 14, 2026; The Hindu BusinessLine, Cabinet expands disability pension coverage to 27 lakh)