Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)

Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)

Overview: The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is a vital component of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), introduced by the Government of India on August 15, 1995. The scheme provides financial assistance to elderly citizens living Below the Poverty Line (BPL) and has limited means of sustenance. The Ministry of Rural Development administers the NSAP. It aims to uphold the Directive Principles of State Policy, which emphasize the State’s responsibility to ensure adequate means of livelihood, raise living standards, and provide social welfare.

Benefits:

• Pension Amount:
  • ₹200 per month for beneficiaries aged 60 to 79 years.
  • ₹500 per month for beneficiaries aged 80 years and above.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The applicant must be a citizen of India.
• The applicant must live below the poverty line (BPL).
• The applicant must be at least 60 years old.

Application Process: Citizens can apply for IGNOAPS through an online process:

1. Access: Download the UMANG App or visit the UMANG Website.
2. Login: Use a mobile number and OTP to sign in.
3. Application: Search for NSAP and click on “Apply Online.”
4. Details: Fill in the necessary details, choose the preferred payment mode for the pension, upload a recent photograph, and submit the application.

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Required Documents: NSAP

• Completed and self-attested application form.
• Domicile Certificate.
• Residential Proof (such as Voter ID, Electricity Bill, Aadhar Card).
• Age Proof (Birth Certificate, a certificate from the last school attended, a certificate from Municipal Authority or Medical Board).
• Aadhar Number.
• Bank Passbook.
• Ration Card.
• An affidavit duly attested by a Judicial or Executive Magistrate confirming that the applicant does not receive any other pension or financial assistance.

Objectives of NSAP:

1. To provide social assistance benefits to poor households during critical times, such as the death of a breadwinner, maternity, or old age.
2. To establish minimum national social protection standards, supplementing state-level benefits.
3. To ensure consistent and uninterrupted social protection across the country.

Expansion: In 2007, the scheme was expanded to cover all eligible persons living Below the Poverty Line (BPL) across India.