Delhi launches audit of senior citizen pension scheme to weed out ineligible beneficiaries

In a push to tighten oversight and ensure welfare funds reach the truly deserving, the Delhi government has initiated a comprehensive evaluation of its Senior Citizen Pension Scheme. The Planning Department has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting agencies to conduct the study, with bids due by December 17.

The scheme currently provides monthly financial assistance to elderly residents of the capital — ₹2,000 for those aged 60 to 69, and ₹2,500 for beneficiaries above 70. Applicants belonging to SC/ST and minority communities receive an additional ₹500 per month. Eligibility requires at least five years of residence in Delhi, an Aadhaar-linked bank account and compliance with a prescribed income ceiling.

According to the RFP, the selected agency will measure both direct benefits — including reduction in income insecurity, financial adequacy for basic needs and support for everyday expenses — and indirect outcomes such as improved dignity, decreased neglect, better access to food and medicines and stronger social inclusion for senior citizens.

A key focus of the evaluation will be to identify and eliminate ineligible pension recipients, particularly those whose annual family income exceeds ₹1 lakh. The government has also tasked the agency with examining whether existing eligibility conditions and documentation requirements are accessible to the most vulnerable elderly residents, especially those with limited mobility or digital access.

Beyond auditing the system for misuse, the study aims to flag coverage gaps and propose reforms to strengthen targeting, streamline delivery and ensure that the pension scheme fulfils its core mandate — providing reliable, dignified support to Delhi’s senior citizens.