Old age pension: Is a major pension hike coming for senior citizens? Here's what we know
Many pensioners, however, have enquired whether there is a proposal to increase the pension amount for senior citizens.
During a recent Lok Sabha session held on August 5, 2025, Member of Parliament Rajkumar Roat asked the following questions on old age pension.
CGHS beneficiaries: Hospital claims to be rejected without geo-tagged photo upload in these cases, revised rules issued ET Wealth Online breaks down the government's response to three key questions:
Question: Whether it is a fact that senior citizens aged 60 years and above are provided with a pension of Rs 200 per month and those aged 79 years and above receive Rs 500 per month under the National Social Assistance Programme. If so, the details thereof: The government responded in Parliament and said, "The central pension under the Old Age Pension Scheme of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is Rs 200 per month per beneficiary from 60 to 79 years of age and Rs 500 per month per beneficiary from 80 years onwards. As per the guidelines of NSAP, the states/UTs are encouraged to provide a top-up amount of at least an equivalent amount to the assistance provided by the central government so that the beneficiaries could get a decent level of assistance. At present, states/UTs are adding top-up amounts ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 3,800 per month per beneficiary under the old-age pension scheme of NSAP, resulting in an average monthly pension of around Rs 1,000 in most of the states/UTs."
Question: The total funds released for old-age pensions under the said programme during the last five years, state-wise, particularly district- and category-wise in Rajasthan; The government responded in Parliament and said, "Under NSAP, funds are released to the states/UTs, which have the responsibility of implementation of the scheme, including further disbursal of pension to beneficiaries in districts/blocks/villages/towns. State-wise, total funds released under the old-age pension scheme during the last five years are given at Annexure-I. There was no separate allocation of funds for SC and ST beneficiaries under NSAP before 2021-22. From 2021-22, SC and ST beneficiaries are identified among the existing beneficiaries of NSAP, and funds are being allocated/released under SC and ST heads. Category-wise funds released under the old-age pension scheme during the last five years to the state of Rajasthan are given at Annexure-II."
Question: Whether the central government proposes to increase the pension for senior citizens aged 60 to 79 years to Rs 1,000 per month and for those aged above 79 years to Rs 1,500 per month; and if so, the time by which it is likely to be completed, and if not, the reasons therefor? The government replied in Parliament that it is not currently considering any such proposal.
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