Chandigarh, August 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Punjab Government has released ₹1,785.29 crore under the Old Age Pension Scheme during the current financial year 2026-27, benefiting more than 24 lakh senior citizens, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur said on Thursday.
The minister said the financial assistance was being provided under the ‘Sade Bazurg Sada Maan’ campaign, aimed at strengthening social security and financial support for elderly citizens across the state.
To ensure pensions are disbursed regularly and on time, the government has allocated ₹4,000 crore for the Old Age Pension Scheme in the 2026-27 Budget. Eligible beneficiaries receive a monthly pension of ₹1,500.
Dr Baljit Kaur said the scheme was intended to provide elderly citizens with greater financial stability and help them meet their basic needs with dignity and independence.
Under the prescribed eligibility criteria, men aged 65 years and above and women aged 58 years and above can avail themselves of the pension, provided their annual income from all sources does not exceed ₹60,000.
Applicants must also meet the landholding conditions specified under the scheme. They should not own more than 2.5 acres of irrigated or canal land or more than 5 acres of barani land.
Dr Baljit Kaur said senior citizens were an important strength of society and that the government was working to expand citizen-centric welfare measures aimed at improving their quality of life.
She said strengthening the social security system remained a priority so that elderly citizens could live with confidence, self-respect and economic security.
The minister directed officials concerned to ensure that no eligible senior citizen was excluded from the pension scheme. She also instructed them to ensure that payments were released within the prescribed timelines.
Any negligence or avoidable delay in pension disbursement would be viewed seriously, she warned.
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