Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY): Umbrella Scheme for Senior Citizens
Last updated: 2026-11-13 · MockMentor
Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), launched on 1 April 2021 and earlier the National Action Plan for Senior Citizens, is the umbrella scheme for people aged 60 and above. It runs from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with ₹600 crore and implements the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, which calls for at least one old age home in every district.
In one line: shelter, care, assistive devices, helplines and work opportunities for India's ageing population.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Launched | 1 April 2021 |
| Period | 2021-22 to 2025-26 |
| Outlay | ₹600 crore |
| Funding | Budget support and the Senior Citizens' Welfare Fund |
| Law | Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 |
| Helpline | Elderline 14567 |
Main components
- Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens: senior citizen homes, continuous care homes for people with dementia, and mobile medicare units.
- Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana: free assistive devices (up to ₹15,000 for items like hearing aids and spectacles, ₹20,000 for wheelchairs) for poor seniors, through ALIMCO.
- SACRED portal for re-employment of able seniors.
- SAGE portal: equity of up to ₹1 crore for elder-care startups.
Possible exam questions
- How should India prepare for its ageing population?
- Discuss the role of the family and the State in caring for the elderly.
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