The Union Cabinet has halved the disability threshold for the national disability pension from 80% to 40% and made persons eligible from birth.

BulletsIn

• The Union Cabinet on 14 October lowered the benchmark disability required for the disability pension from 80% to 40%.
• The change was approved as part of the five-year continuation of the National Social Assistance Programme from 2026-27 to 2030-31.
• The minimum age criterion has been removed, so eligibility now applies from birth.
• The scheme is renamed the Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana, replacing the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme.
• Assistance under the revised scheme will be Rs 375 a month for beneficiaries aged 0 to 79 years.
• Beneficiaries aged 80 years and above will receive Rs 625 a month.
• Guidelines on eligibility, beneficiary numbers and assistance rates are to be issued within three months.
• The revision aligns the scheme with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
• The parent National Social Assistance Programme has a total outlay of Rs 53,428 crore and covers about 3.20 crore beneficiaries across all 36 States and Union Territories.