Govt asks collectors for Aadhaar linking of bank accounts for NSAP beneficiaries

Bhubaneswar: The state govt on Monday directed all district collectors to ensure Aadhaar linking of bank accounts for beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), warning that the existing account-based payment mode will be phased out from the 2026-27 financial year.In a letter, principal secretary of the social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities department, Suresh Kumar Vashishth, said pensions will be disbursed exclusively through the Aadhaar-based payment system on the SNA-SPARSH platform going forward.According to official data, as many as 3.35 lakh beneficiaries are still receiving pensions through account-based payments without Aadhaar being mapped to their bank accounts.

“SNA-SPARSH will no longer allow account-based payments,” the letter stated.The department flagged logistical challenges, noting that several beneficiaries are bedridden and may not be able to physically visit banks for Aadhaar seeding. District administrations have been asked to identify such cases and take necessary steps to facilitate Aadhaar linking to ensure uninterrupted pension disbursal.Collectors have also been instructed to use the NSAP-PPS portal to track eligible beneficiaries, with district social security officers (DSSOs) authorised to access login credentials.Officials stressed that Aadhaar seeding and e-KYC must be completed on priority at the block level through Aadhaar operators. In case of issues, Aadhaar coordinators supervising clusters of blocks will provide support.