Also clears 78-day bonus for railway staff
New Delhi, October 14: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday 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, while also clearing a 78-day Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) worth Rs 2,009.61 crore for 11,40,770 railway employees.
The two decisions cover social security assistance for vulnerable sections of society and financial incentives for railway employees in recognition of their performance during the financial year 2025-26.
Under the approved continuation of NSAP, the government has cleared the renaming of the scheme and its sub-schemes, along with revisions to eligibility criteria, coverage and assistance rates under the Divyangjan Pension Scheme. The pension schemes for senior citizens and widows, as well as the National Family Benefit Scheme, will continue in their existing form.
The National Social Assistance Programme will be renamed the Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana. The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme will become the Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana, while the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme will be renamed the Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana.
Similarly, the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme will become the Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana, and the National Family Benefit Scheme will be renamed the Pradhan Mantri Parivar Labh Yojana.
Under the revised provisions for the Divyangjan Pension Scheme, eligible beneficiaries aged 0–79 years will receive assistance of Rs 375, while those aged 80 years and above will receive Rs 625.
The benchmark disability eligibility threshold has been reduced from 80 per cent to 40 per cent, and the minimum age criterion for disability pension has been removed, allowing eligibility from birth, subject to prescribed conditions.
According to the government, approximately 3.20 crore beneficiaries across all 36 States and Union Territories will benefit from the approval. Guidelines specifying the revised eligibility criteria, beneficiary coverage and assistance rates under the Divyangjan Pension Scheme will be issued and implemented within three months.
Launched on August 15, 1995, NSAP provides assistance to poor households in fulfilment of the Central Government’s responsibility under Article 41 of the Directive Principles of State Policy of the Constitution. The programme provides 100 per cent central assistance to ensure uniform availability of support to eligible beneficiaries across the country.
The revisions to disability pension eligibility also take into account the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which links benchmark disability to a threshold of 40 per cent and mandates disability-related assistance to be at least 25 per cent higher than that under comparable schemes for other categories.
In another major decision, the Cabinet approved a Productivity Linked Bonus of 78 days’ wages, amounting to Rs 2,009.61 crore, for 11,40,770 railway employees in recognition of their contribution to the performance of Indian Railways.
The bonus will benefit approximately 11.40 lakh eligible non-gazetted railway employees. The maximum amount payable to each eligible employee has been fixed at Rs 17,951 for 78 days.
The annual bonus is paid before the Durga Puja and Dussehra holidays and serves as an incentive to motivate railway staff to improve operational performance and efficiency.
The eligible categories include track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers (guards), station masters, supervisors, technicians, technician helpers, pointsmen, ministerial staff and other Group C employees.
The government said Indian Railways recorded strong performance during 2025-26, loading a record 1,670 million tonnes of freight and carrying nearly 7.41 billion passengers.
The bonus recognises the contribution of railway personnel to freight transportation and passenger services while encouraging continued improvements in railway operations.
Together, the Cabinet decisions mark a major commitment to social security and welfare, with Rs 53,428 crore earmarked for the continuation of the social assistance programme over five years and Rs 2,009.61 crore approved for the annual bonus to railway employees.
