30, August 2025

Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): An Analysis of India’s Social Security Framework for Elderly Citizens

VOLUME-11; ISSUE-8; AUG-2025

Author(s): Yash Rana

Authors Affiliations:

Research Student, Department Of Economics, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat, Gujarat

DOIs:10.2015/IJIRMF/202508041     |     Paper ID: IJIRMF202508041


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This paper examines the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), India's primary non-contributory pension program for elderly citizens below the poverty line. Launched in 1995 and restructured in 2007, the scheme provides monthly pensions of ₹200 for beneficiaries aged 60-79 years and ₹500 for those aged 80 and above. The study analyzes IGNOAPS's coverage of approximately 29 million beneficiaries and its decentralized implementation through state governments. While the scheme demonstrates strengths in broad reach and digital payment integration, significant challenges persist including inadequate benefit amounts that cover less than 30% of elderly consumption needs, targeting errors affecting 30% of eligible beneficiaries, and administrative barriers. Impact assessment reveals positive outcomes including poverty reduction, improved health outcomes, and enhanced food security among 78% of surveyed beneficiaries. However, stagnant benefit amounts since 2012 limit the scheme's effectiveness in addressing elder poverty. The paper concludes that IGNOAPS requires benefit enhancement, simplified procedures, and adaptation to India's aging population to maintain relevance as a cornerstone of social security policy.  
Social security, elderly welfare, non-contributory pensions, poverty reduction, social protection, India, aging population, IGNOAPS

Yash Rana (2025); Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): An Analysis of India’s Social Security Framework for Elderly Citizens, International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, ISSN(O): 2455-0620, Vol-11, Issue-8, Pp.308-311.          Available on –   https://www.ijirmf.com/

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