Odisha raises old-age pension to ₹3,500 monthly

Bhubaneswar

The Odisha government has decided to increase the monthly pension to Rs 3,500 for beneficiaries aged 80 and above, as well as persons with over 80% disability, starting from June this year. This announcement was made official by the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department. The pension hike applies to all beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and the Madhu Babu Pension Scheme (MBPS), replacing the previous pension amount of Rs 1,500 per month.

The SSEPD Department has instructed District Social Security Officers (DSSOs) to implement the revised pension amount based on eligible beneficiary lists provided by sub-collectors. The pension increase will be effective retrospectively from January 2025. DSSOs are also responsible for sanctioning the updated pensions and sending orders to the department for further processing.

This pension increase was a key promise in the BJP manifesto and was announced by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi during his first budget presentation in July 2024. To support this, the government allocated Rs 7,600 crore for pension schemes. Earlier, in January 2025, Chief Minister Majhi distributed the enhanced pension to a select group of beneficiaries at a special event held in Keonjhar district.

This pension increase aims to provide better financial support to elderly and disabled citizens, ensuring their well-being and security. The government’s effort reflects its commitment to social welfare and its focus on improving the lives of vulnerable groups in Odisha.