GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Governance, Government programme and policies
Source: DTE
Context: An audit conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has revealed that approximately Rs 79 crore was improperly transferred to ineligible beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) of the Ministry of Rural Development between 2017 and 2021.
- Article 151 of the Constitution mandates the CAG to present audit reports to the President.
Key findings of the audit report include:
| Issue | Description |
| Ineligible Payments | A substantial portion of transferred funds was disbursed to ineligible beneficiaries, including those who had passed away.
Nearly Rs 3 crore was diverted for campaigning in respect to other ministry schemes. |
| Lack of Beneficiary Database | Most states (except Haryana and Kerala) failed to maintain a proper database of eligible beneficiaries, resulting in the exclusion of eligible individuals. |
| Age Inaccuracies | Ineligible payments made to individuals below the required age for specific pension schemes like INGOAPS and IGNWPS in multiple states/UTs. |
| Disability Pension Mismanagement | Payments meant for disability pensions disbursed to ineligible individuals, and inaccuracies in assessing the degree of disability in some cases. |
| Deceased Beneficiaries | In 26 states/UTs, payments continued to be made to over 2,100 individuals even after their death, a concerning finding. |
| BPL List Maintenance | Many states relied on outdated or incomplete BPL lists instead of the mandated SECC to identify beneficiaries, leading to the exclusion of eligible individuals. |
| Inefficient Fund Usage | Some states diverted NSAP funds for other purposes, and certain funds remained unused for years. NSAP Advisory Committee held only a few meetings. |
Impact: This misallocation of funds led to several eligible beneficiaries being excluded from the program. Over 4.65 crore people availed of benefits during 2017-21
Significance of the Report: This report underscores the need for more rigorous oversight and transparent management of social assistance programs to ensure that funds are allocated appropriately to those who truly need them. The findings indicate significant deficiencies in beneficiary identification, record-keeping, and fund utilization, which have collectively resulted in a substantial amount of misallocated funds and the exclusion of eligible recipients from the NSAP.
About The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
| Aspect | Details |
| About | The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a welfare programme first launched in 1995 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and administered by the Ministry of Rural Development. It was included in the ‘Core of Core’ schemes of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) in 2016. |
| Aim | To provide social assistance to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households, specifically targeting the elderly, disabled individuals, widows, etc. |
| Implementation Area | Implemented in both rural and urban areas. |
| Components | · Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) – Since NSAP’s inception in 1995
· National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) – 1995 · Annapurna Scheme – Launched in 2000 · Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) – Launched in 2009 · Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme – Launched in 2009. |
| Constitutional Basis | Article 41 and Article 42 of the Constitution provide the basis for NSAP:
· Article 41 directs the State to provide public assistance to citizens in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness, disablement, and undeserved want within its economic capacity. · Article 42 emphasizes securing just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief. |
| National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS) | Originally part of NSAP, it was later transferred from the Ministry of Rural Development to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. |
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