PRISM (Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Start-ups and MSMEs): Category-1: Proof of Concept/ Prototypes/ Models 2026

This scheme provides financial help to poor families in India when the main earner of the household Read More... passes away. It's part of the National Social Assistance Programme. Read less

Details

Losing a loved one is hard enough. When that person is also the main source of income for the family, the financial burden can be immense. The Indian government, through the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), has a scheme to help families during such difficult times.

What Is This Scheme?

The National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) is designed to offer immediate financial support to poor households that have lost their primary breadwinner. This assistance is provided irrespective of the reason for the death, aiming to ease the financial stress on the remaining family members.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

The scheme specifically targets families living below the poverty line (BPL). The support is for households where the main earner, aged between 18 and 60 years, has passed away. The benefit goes to the person who takes over as the head of the household after the death.

Why This Scheme Is Important

When a primary breadwinner dies, it can lead to severe financial hardship and disrupt the lives of dependents. This scheme acts as a safety net, providing a lump sum amount that can help the family manage immediate expenses and try to rebuild their financial stability.

Objective

This scheme provides financial help to poor families in India when the main earner of the household passes away. It's part of the National Social Assistance Programme.

Benefits

Project cost up to₹5,00,000to help Innovators convert their ideas into demonstrable models/prototypes.

Maximum support under this category is₹2,00,000 or 90% of the approved project cost, whichever is lower.

NOTE 1:The financial support is not an award or a prize or a research fellowship. The financial support is provided for the work to be undertaken.NOTE 2:Elements like self-salary, rent of own accommodation, creation of infrastructure facility like shed etc should not form the component of support/funds. The support/funds should be mainly for prototype development work/proof of concept.

Sources and references

Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

You must be a citizen of India.
Your family must be living Below Poverty Line (BPL).
The main earner of your family must have passed away.
The deceased breadwinner must have been between 18 and 60 years old at the time of death.
You must be the person who is now the primary earner or head of the family.

How To Apply

To apply for the National Family Benefit Scheme, you need to submit a completed application form along with all required documents. The form should be submitted to either the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) or the Tehsil Social Welfare Officer (TSWO).

Documents Required

You will need to provide documents related to the deceased breadwinner and the family member applying for assistance:

For the Deceased Breadwinner:

Death Certificate
Proof of Identity
Proof of Address
BPL Card or Ration Card of the Family
Family ID / Member ID

For the Family Member Receiving Assistance:

Proof of Identity
Proof of Address
Proof of Age
Family ID / Member ID
Details of AADHAAR Seeded Bank Account or Post Office Account
Passport Size Photo

FAQ’s

What is the total amount of financial aid a family can get from the National Family Benefit Scheme?

Under this scheme, a family receives a one-time financial aid of ₹ 20,000.

If I can't sign the application form because I'm illiterate, can I still apply?

Yes, absolutely. If you are unable to sign the form, you can provide your thumb impression instead.

How do I know who will receive the financial assistance within the family?

The amount will be given to the surviving family member who is identified as the head of the household after a local inquiry following the death of the main earner.

Does the scheme cover extended family members like uncles, aunts, and their children?

No, the term 'household' for this scheme strictly includes only the spouse, minor children, unmarried daughters, and dependent parents.

Is the financial aid provided on a monthly basis, or is it a single payment?

The financial assistance provided under this scheme is a one-time lump sum payment.

Where can I find my Family ID and Member ID?

You can usually find your Family ID and Member ID details on your BPL Card.

My mother passed away. She was the primary earner, contributing most to our family's income, even more than my father. Will she be considered the breadwinner?

Yes, she will be considered the primary breadwinner. The scheme defines the primary breadwinner as the family member whose income forms the largest part of the family's total earnings, regardless of gender.

I've filled out the NFBS application form and attached the necessary papers and a photo. Where should I submit it?

You should submit the completed and signed application form, along with copies of the required documents, to either the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) or the Tehsil Social Welfare Officer (TSWO).