The Centre has passed on to the states the onus of raising the pension paid to senior citizens, widows and the disabled under a national social security scheme, and of updating the list of beneficiaries. An academic said the Centre’s persistent refusal to add beneficiaries had left the “most vulnerable” and voiceless people in the lurch. Aam Admi Party member Raghav Chadha had sought details about the rural households excluded from the ministry’s welfare schemes because of outdated or incomplete beneficiary data. “Under NSAP, if there are more eligible beneficiaries, states have the option toprovide financial assistance from their own sources,” Paswan said. “These (the eligible beneficiaries) are the most vulnerable people with very little say in the political and social structure.

Source: The Telegraph February 16, 2026 20:43 UTC