IGNWPSB

Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar

6.0/10

Under this scheme, a monthly pension of ₹400/- is provided to widows in the age group of 40 to 79 years who belong to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families to support them financially. This scheme is centrally sponsored.

State Cash

States / UT: Bihar

Nodal department: Social Welfare Department

Scheme for: Individual

Scheme profile

DBT (direct benefit transfer): Yes

Categories: Social welfare & Empowerment, Women and Child

Sub-categories: Pension

Target beneficiaries: Individual

Tags: Widow, Indira Gandhi, Pension, BPL

Details

The scheme "Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme" is implemented by the Social Welfare Department, Government of Bihar. Under this scheme, a monthly pension is provided to widows in the age group of 40 to 79 years who belong to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families to support them financially. This scheme is centrally sponsored.
Objective:
The objective of this scheme is to provide social security to the widows of poor families of the society by providing them financial assistance.

Benefits

  • - Under this scheme, eligible widows will receive a monthly pension of ₹400/-. Note: The pension amount is being paid to the beneficiaries under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) process. In this process, the pension amount is paid directly into the accounts of the beneficiaries through PFMS from the state level on the basis of the account number provided by the beneficiaries
  • Under this scheme, eligible widows will receive a monthly pension of ₹400/-.

Note: The pension amount is being paid to the beneficiaries under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) process. In this process, the pension amount is paid directly into the accounts of the beneficiaries through PFMS from the state level on the basis of the account number provided by the beneficiaries.

Eligibility

  • The applicant should be a resident of Bihar.
  • The applicant should be a widow.
  • The widow's age should be between 40 and 79 years.
  • The widow should belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family.
  • The widow should not be receiving pension benefits under any social security scheme.

How useful is this scheme?

Public benefit analysis

A practical look at this scheme for citizens

AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.

6.0
/ 10
Public Benefit Score
Accessibility 6.0/10 Moderate
Rural usefulness 7.0/10 Good
Application complexity 5.0/10 Moderate
Financial impact 4.0/10 Moderate
Literacy barrier 4.0/10 Moderate
Women inclusivity 9.0/10 Good
Awareness 4.5/10 Moderate
Implementation reliability 8.0/10 Good
Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens
  • Accessibility6.0
  • Financial impact4.0
  • Rural utility7.0
  • Awareness4.5
  • Simplicity5.0
  • Inclusivity9.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The scheme provides essential financial support to widows from BPL families in Bihar, addressing a critical need for social security.

Key challenges addressed

  • Financial insecurity among widows
  • Lack of social support for elderly women

Most beneficial for

  • Widows aged 40-79 from Below Poverty Line families

Likely challenges

  • Application complexity for semi-literate individuals
  • Awareness of the scheme among potential beneficiaries

Practical insights for citizens

The scheme is practical but requires significant effort from beneficiaries to navigate the application process.

Rural challenges

  • Limited access to RTPS counters
  • Potential lack of awareness in rural areas

Digital challenges

  • Low digital literacy among target beneficiaries
  • Limited access to online resources

Implementation bottlenecks

  • Delayed processing of applications
  • Communication gaps in notifying applicants

Awareness challenges

  • Low awareness among eligible widows about the scheme

Application analysis

Application mode
Offline office
Documents burden
Minimal, but requires application form and identity proof
Verification complexity
Moderate, involves multiple steps
Office dependency
High, requires visit to RTPS counter
DBT dependency
Yes, relies on Direct Benefit Transfer
CSC support
Limited
Estimated citizen effort
Moderate effort required for application submission

Estimated beneficiary reach

  • Rural / urban reach High
  • Gender reach Female-only
  • Target income group Below Poverty Line families
  • Occupation reach Widows, primarily homemakers

Benefit analysis

Benefit type
Cash
Benefit frequency
Monthly
Benefit practicality
Provides essential support but may not be sufficient for all needs
Financial meaningfulness
Moderate, as ₹400 may not cover all expenses
Long-term impact
Positive, as it provides ongoing support to vulnerable widows

Plain-language guidance

The Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme provides financial assistance to widows aged 40-79 from Below Poverty Line families in Bihar. Eligible widows can receive a monthly pension of ₹400.

Who should apply
Widows aged 40-79 from Below Poverty Line families in Bihar.
Who may struggle
Semi-literate individuals and those unfamiliar with the application process.
Best application route
Apply at the RTPS counter in your local block office.

This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.

Application Process

Offline

Step 1: To avail of the benefits of this scheme, eligible applicants should submit their duly filled and signed application in the prescribed format, along with the required attachments, at the Right to Public Service (RTPS) counter located at the block office level.
Step 2: Upon submission, applicants will receive an acknowledgment receipt from the RTPS counter, which should be kept for future reference.
Step 3: Applicants will be notified of the application's approval or rejection via SMS or email.
Step 4: If approved, the Sanction Order can be collected from the same RTPS counter where the application was submitted, upon presenting the acknowledgment receipt and a valid identity card.

Complaints & Grievance Redressal:

  • A special portal has been developed for grievance redressal in relation to the Social Security Pension Scheme (https://www.sspmis.bihar.gov.in/) where the beneficiary can go and register his complaint himself or can call on toll-free number 18003456262 and register his complaint free of cost through the helpdesk. - The complaint can be lodged in the office of the Block Development Officer, Sub-divisional Office, Assistant Director, District Social Security Cell/District Child Protection Unit, Director, Social Security Office, and Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Social Welfare Department. Apart from this, under the Bihar Public Grievance Redressal Rights Act, 2016, the office of the Public Grievance Redressal Officer at the sub-divisional level and the District Public Grievance Redressal Officer at the district level are functioning.

Clarifications

Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).

What is the objective of the scheme?

The objective of the scheme is to provide social security to widows from poor families by offering them financial assistance in the form of a monthly pension.

Who is eligible to apply for this pension scheme?

Widows residing in Bihar, aged between 40 and 79 years, belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, and not receiving pension benefits under any other social security scheme are eligible.

How much pension is provided under this scheme?

Eligible widows receive a monthly pension of ₹400/- under this scheme.

How is the pension amount disbursed to beneficiaries?

The pension amount is disbursed directly into the beneficiaries' bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) process via the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

What is the age criterion for eligibility?

The widow's age should be between 40 and 79 years to be eligible for the pension.

Can a widow receiving another pension apply for this scheme?

No, widows who are receiving pension benefits under any other social security scheme are not eligible for this scheme.

Is there any income criterion for eligibility?

Yes, the widow must belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family to be eligible for this scheme.

How can one apply for the scheme?

Eligible applicants can apply by submitting a duly filled and signed application in the prescribed format, along with required attachments, at the Right to Public Service (RTPS) counter located at the block office level.

Where should the application for the pension scheme be submitted?

The application should be submitted at the Right to Public Service (RTPS) counter at the block office level.

What happens after submitting the application?

After submission, applicants receive an acknowledgment receipt. They will be notified of the application's approval or rejection via SMS or email.

What if an application is rejected?

If an application is rejected, the applicant will be notified of the reasons for rejection. They can reapply after addressing the issues or contact the grievance redressal system for further assistance.

References

Guidelines
https://state.bihar.gov.in/cache/39/Chhatra%20Yojna/Mukhyamantri%20Samajik%20Sahayata%20Evam%20Protsahan%20Chhatra%20Yojna/IGNWPS.pdf
Scheme Details
https://state.bihar.gov.in/cache/39/Chhatra%20Yojna/Mukhyamantri%20Samajik%20Sahayata%20Evam%20Protsahan%20Chhatra%20Yojna/Mukhyamantri%20Samajik%20Sahayata%20Evam%20Protsahan%20Chhatra%20Yojna.pdf
Application Format
https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s30d0fd7c6e093f7b804fa0150b875b868/uploads/2018/03/2018031737.pdf
Official Website
https://state.bihar.gov.in/socialwelfare/CitizenHome.html
SSPMIS Portal
https://www.sspmis.bihar.gov.in/

Apply

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Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Social welfare & Empowerment, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Eligibility for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
What benefits are offered under Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Benefits under Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
Which department manages Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar is managed by Social Welfare Department and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
Where can users apply for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Applications for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
What documents may be required for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
Is Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar available in all states?
No, Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar is primarily available for eligible residents of Bihar and may be implemented through state government departments and local administrative offices.
Can residents outside Bihar apply for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Eligibility for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar is generally limited to residents of Bihar unless otherwise specified in the official scheme guidelines.
Is Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar only for women beneficiaries?
Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar is primarily intended to support eligible women beneficiaries through welfare assistance, financial support, skill development, healthcare, or social security initiatives.
Does Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar support self-employment or financial assistance for women?
Depending on scheme guidelines, Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar may provide loans, subsidies, training support, self-employment assistance, or financial welfare benefits for women.
Who is eligible for pension benefits under Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Eligibility may depend on age, income category, social welfare criteria, disability status, widow status, or senior citizen classification defined under the scheme.
How are pension benefits provided under Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Pension assistance under Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar may be transferred through direct benefit transfer (DBT), linked bank accounts, post office accounts, or welfare department payment systems.
Can CSC centres help users apply for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
How can users check the latest updates for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar?
Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar in Bihar?
Users in Bihar may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
Which nearby public services may help with Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar applications?
Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.