Introduction Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana is a social security scheme designed to support senior citizens from economically weaker households. It continues the old-age pension assistance previously provided under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), which operates under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), also referred to in the supplied information as Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana. The scheme provides central financial assistance according to the age of the beneficiary. Eligible senior citizens aged 60 to 79 years receive ₹200 per month, while those aged 80 years or older receive ₹500 per month. State Governments may supplement the central pension amount through their own pension programmes, meaning the total assistance can vary by state. The National Social Assistance Programme was launched on 15 August 1995 to provide social assistance to eligible people in need. The supplied information states that the Union Cabinet approved its continuation for 2026-27 to 2030-31, with a total allocation of ₹53,428 crore. It also states that the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme was renamed Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana on 14 October 2026, while the existing pension provisions remained the reference for benefits and eligibility. Eligible senior citizens from both rural and urban areas can apply through the designated authority in their State or Union Territory. Depending on local arrangements, applications may be submitted through an official pension portal, the UMANG Portal, a Gram Panchayat, a Ward Office or a Municipality. Applicants must provide the documents required to establish their age, identity and BPL household eligibility. The scheme is administered by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, while State and Union Territory authorities handle beneficiary identification, verification and pension disbursement. Payments are generally made monthly through the applicable payment system, including bank or post office accounts where available. Benefits Eligible beneficiaries aged 60–79 years receive central pension assistance of ₹200 per month. Beneficiaries aged 80 years and above receive central pension assistance of ₹500 per month. State Governments may provide additional financial assistance, depending on their pension policies. The central pension amount increases to the applicable 80-and-above category when a beneficiary reaches 80 years, subject to the scheme's administrative procedures. Pension payments are generally credited to the beneficiary's bank or post office account through the applicable payment system. Eligible senior citizens in rural and urban areas can receive assistance, subject to the relevant rules. The pension offers recurring financial support to help beneficiaries meet essential living expenses. The scheme's continuation supports eligible senior citizens under the existing old-age pension framework. Eligibility Applicants must satisfy the applicable scheme conditions and the verification requirements of their State or Union Territory. The applicant must be an Indian citizen, as specified in the supplied eligibility information. The applicant must be at least 60 years old. The applicant must belong to a household meeting the Government of India's Below Poverty Line (BPL) criteria. Both men and women may apply if they meet the prescribed conditions. Eligible applicants may reside in rural or urban areas. There is no upper age limit stated in the supplied scheme information. Applicants whose names are not included in the existing BPL list should contact the designated authority to confirm how their eligibility can be assessed and recorded under the applicable guidelines. Applicants must complete the required verification process before pension approval. Note: The supplied information describes beneficiary identification as an ongoing process. Applicants should confirm the current BPL verification procedure, accepted eligibility evidence and application requirements with their local pension authority. Documents Applicants should prepare the following documents and details. The final checklist may vary depending on the rules and procedures followed by the concerned State or Union Territory. Completed and signed old-age pension application form. Recent passport-size photograph. Age proof, such as a birth certificate or school certificate. Aadhaar Card, as required by the concerned authority. Ration Card, where applicable. Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), where applicable. BPL household details, including survey year, location, family identification number and member identification number, where required. Bank account or post office savings account details for pension disbursement. Applicant's signature or thumb impression on the application form. Process to Apply Eligible senior citizens can apply online through the UMANG Portal where the service is available, or submit an offline application through the designated local authority. The procedure and verification arrangements may differ by State or Union Territory. Online Application Open the UMANG Portal or launch the UMANG mobile application. Register if you are a new user, or log in to your existing account. Open the available services section and search for “NSAP” or “National Social Assistance Programme.” Select the relevant old-age pension service if it is available for your State or Union Territory. Choose the application option and enter the required personal, age, household and bank account details. Provide the requested documents and review the information entered in the form. Submit the application and retain the acknowledgement or reference number, if one is provided. Follow up with the relevant authority if additional documents or verification are required. Important: According to the supplied information, the UMANG service may continue to appear under the older names “National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)” and “Old Age Pension.” If the renamed scheme is not displayed, search for those terms and follow the instructions currently shown on the portal. Confirm the available service with the local pension authority if you cannot find it. Offline Application Visit your Gram Panchayat in a rural area or the Ward Office or Municipality in an urban area. Request the old-age pension application form. The supplied information states that the form may be available free of cost from the designated local office. Check whether the form can also be downloaded from your State's official website. Complete the application and attach the required documents. Submit the form to the appropriate Gram Panchayat, Ward Office or Municipal authority. The designated verification officer or team checks the application and records its recommendation. Under the described procedure, the applicant list and recommendations may be placed before the Gram Sabha, Ward Sabha or Area Sabha and then before the Gram Panchayat or Municipality. The designated sanctioning authority at the Block or Municipality level processes the sanction according to the applicable procedure. Where issued, retain the pension passbook or sanction details for future reference and payment tracking. Beneficiaries may also be identified through local government outreach and BPL household records, rather than relying exclusively on individual applications. Applicants should check with their local authority about the procedure followed in their area and how to track an application after submission. Important Links and Contact Official NSAP Portal – Information on the National Social Assistance Programme. Application Status Tracking – Check the status of an application through the NSAP portal, if the service is available. UMANG Portal – Access available online government services. NSAP Guidelines – Previous old-age pension and social audit guidelines. Cabinet Press Release – Link supplied for the scheme-renaming announcement. Ministry of Rural Development – Official ministry website. Download UMANG for Android. Download UMANG for iOS. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme – Information on the former scheme name. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana – Related support scheme for eligible senior citizens. Email: mis-nsap@nic.in Contact: For help with eligibility, application verification or pension payments, contact the Gram Panchayat, Block Office, Ward Office, Municipality or designated pension authority in your area. The supplied information does not specify a single nationwide helpline number. FAQs Q1. What is Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana?It is an old-age social security scheme that provides monthly central financial assistance to eligible senior citizens belonging to BPL households. Q2. Who is eligible to apply for this pension?Indian citizens aged 60 years or above who meet the applicable BPL household and verification requirements may apply, subject to the rules followed by their State or Union Territory. Q3. How much pension is provided to beneficiaries aged 60–79 years?The central government assistance specified in the supplied information is ₹200 per month for eligible beneficiaries aged 60 to 79 years. Q4. What is the pension amount for people aged 80 years or above?Eligible beneficiaries aged 80 years and above receive central assistance of ₹500 per month under the described provisions. Q5. Can State Governments provide additional pension benefits?Yes. State Governments may provide additional assistance from their own funds, so the total pension can vary by state. Q6. Which documents are needed to apply?Common documents include the application form, photograph, age proof, Aadhaar Card where required, BPL household details and bank or post office account information. The local authority may request additional documents. Q7. How can I apply online for the old-age pension?Visit the UMANG Portal, register or log in, search for NSAP and select the old-age pension service if it is available for your State or Union Territory. Q8. Where can I submit an offline application?You can enquire at your Gram Panchayat in rural areas or your Ward Office or Municipality in urban areas and follow the local application procedure. Q9. How can I check my application status?Use the NSAP application tracking page if available, or contact the authority handling your application. Q10. Where can I get assistance with the scheme?Contact your designated local pension authority or visit the NSAP contact page. The supplied information lists mis-nsap@nic.in as the programme email address.