Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana is a social security pension scheme of the Government of India that provides monthly financial assistance to eligible widowed women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. The scheme aims to help widows from economically weaker families meet their basic household expenses and manage essential needs with greater financial security. The Union Cabinet approved the renaming of the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) to Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana on 14 October 2026. Women searching for the old scheme name should therefore look for the renamed scheme when checking official announcements and pension-related information.

The scheme operates under Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana, formerly known as the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), administered by the Ministry of Rural Development. Under the existing central pension provisions, eligible widows aged 40 to 79 years receive ₹300 per month. After attaining 80 years of age, eligible beneficiaries receive ₹500 per month as central government assistance. State Governments may provide additional financial assistance from their own funds, so the total widow pension amount can vary depending on the state in which the beneficiary lives.

Along with the widow pension scheme, the government has also renamed its existing old age and disability pension schemes under Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana. The former Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme is now known as Pradhan Mantri Vridhavastha Pension Yojana, while the former Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme is now known as Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana.

To receive benefits under Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana, applicants generally need to be widows aged 40 years or above and belong to an eligible BPL household. They must also satisfy the applicable verification requirements of their State or Union Territory. Applicants may need documents such as proof of age, the deceased husband's death certificate, BPL eligibility proof, residence documents and bank or post office account details. Keeping these documents ready can help applicants complete the application process and avoid delays caused by missing information.

Eligible widows can enquire about the PM Vidhwa pension scheme application process through their Gram Panchayat, Block Office, Municipality or other designated pension authority. Eligible beneficiaries can also submit a Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana application online through the UMANG Portal, depending on the services enabled in the applicant's State or Union Territory. Applicants should check which pension service is currently available on the portal and follow the instructions provided by the relevant authority. After submitting an application, they should keep the acknowledgement or reference number, where provided, to help track its progress.

The Cabinet approved the renaming as part of the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana for the period 2026–27 to 2030–31. The official announcement confirmed that the widow pension scheme would continue in its existing form and did not announce any new widow pension amount or revised eligibility conditions. Applicants and existing beneficiaries should therefore continue to follow the applicable pension rules while checking official government portals for updates to the scheme name, application services and payment information.

Scheme Benefits

Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana provides monthly financial assistance to eligible widows from economically weaker households. The scheme continues the existing pension benefits following its renaming in October 2026.

• Eligible widows aged 40 to 79 years receive ₹300 per month as central government assistance.
• Beneficiaries who attain 80 years of age will receive ₹500 per month
• State Governments may provide additional pension assistance from their own funds.
• The pension is transferred to the beneficiary's bank account or post office savings account through the applicable payment system.
• The monthly pension helps eligible widows manage their basic household expenses.
• The scheme provides financial support to eligible widows living in rural and urban areas.

Eligibility Requirements

Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana provides central pension assistance to eligible widowed women from economically weaker households. The following conditions describe the existing scheme requirements; the renaming announcement did not introduce new eligibility rules.

• The applicant must be a widow.
• The applicant must be between 40 and 79 years of age to qualify for the existing central assistance category for widows.
• The applicant must belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) household under the applicable eligibility criteria.
• Applicants residing in rural and urban areas may apply, subject to the rules followed by the respective State or Union Territory.
• The applicant must satisfy the verification requirements and any applicable implementation conditions prescribed by the concerned State or Union Territory.

Note: Beneficiaries who reach 80 years of age fall under the existing higher central pension assistance category under the social assistance programme. Applicants should confirm the current eligibility and verification requirements with their local pension authority.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare the documents needed to establish their identity, age, widowhood, residence and eligibility for pension assistance. The exact document list and accepted alternatives may vary by State or Union Territory. The following documents are included in the existing scheme's application checklist:

• A recent passport-size photograph.
• Aadhaar Card, if you have one.
• Proof of your age, any one of these is usually accepted:
  • Birth Certificate
  • School Certificate
  • Ration Card, if the above two aren't available
  • Voter ID (EPIC), if the above two aren't available
  • An age certificate from a Government Medical Officer, as a last resort if none of the other documents exist
• A widow certificate confirming your marital status.
• Your late husband's death certificate.
• Proof that your household falls under the BPL category.
• Proof of your current residence.
• Bank account or post office savings account details, for the pension credit.
• Ration card, if you have one.
• Voter ID (EPIC), if you have one.

Steps to Apply

Eligible widows can apply for Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana through the designated local authority or an online service, where available. The application process may vary by State or Union Territory because the respective administrations handle beneficiary verification and implementation. Applicants should follow the procedure applicable in their area.

Through Online Application

• Visit the UMANG Portal or open the UMANG mobile application.
• Log in using your registered mobile number or complete the required registration.
• Search for the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) or widow pension services available for your State or Union Territory.
• If the service is available, select the relevant widow pension service and check whether it has been updated to the new scheme name.
• Fill in the application form with the required personal, age, residence, bank account and other details.
• Upload the required documents, including proof of age, widowhood and household eligibility, as applicable.
• Review the information and submit the application.
• Save the application reference number, if provided, to check the application status later.

Note: On the UMANG service, the search listing still reads National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), and the pension option on the form still reads "Widow Pension." This is because the renaming approved by the Cabinet has not yet been reflected on the application portals. Applicants should continue to search for "NSAP" and select "Widow Pension" for now. Once the portals are updated, the service is expected to appear under the new name, Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana, with the widow pension option shown as Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana.

Through Offline Application

• Visit your Gram Panchayat, Block Office, Municipality or the designated pension office in your area.
• Ask the concerned authority for the application form for the widow pension scheme, now known as Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana.
• Complete the form with the required personal and bank account details.
• Attach the necessary documents, including age proof, the husband's death certificate, widowhood proof, BPL eligibility proof and residence proof, as applicable.
• Submit the completed application form and documents to the designated authority.
• Keep the acknowledgement or application reference number for future enquiries, if provided.
• Wait for the concerned authority to verify your application and documents.
• After approval, check the pension payment status through the relevant State or Union Territory portal or the designated local office.

Relevant Links

• Pradhan Mantri Vidhawa Pension Yojana (IGNWPS) Application Form
• UMANG Portal Registration
• UMANG Portal Login
• National Social Assistance Programme (Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana) Official Portal
• Cabinet PIB Press Release on the Renaming of the Scheme
• Ministry of Rural Development Official Website
• Download UMANG Mobile App (Android)
• Download UMANG Mobile App (iOS)

Contact Information

• NSAP (National Social Assistance Programme) Contact Details
• National Social Assistance Programme Email: [email protected]