Free hearing aid machines for senior citizens in India
The two government schemes, who qualifies and how to register
In short: Two government schemes give hearing aids to senior citizens free of cost. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) is for people aged 60 or over with a BPL card or a monthly income up to ₹15,000, and needs no disability certificate. ADIP is for people of any age with a certified disability of at least 40% and a monthly income up to ₹30,000. Both are registered on the ARJUN portal.
Why it matters
Hearing loss is common in later life. The World Health Organization says more than 25% of people over 60 have disabling hearing loss. Many older people put off a hearing aid because of the cost, and these schemes exist to remove that barrier.
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): free hearing aids for people over 60
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is a Government of India scheme, started on 1 April 2017 and run by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. It gives senior citizens free aids for age-related conditions, and hearing impairment is one of the conditions it covers.
Who qualifies
- An Indian senior citizen aged 60 or above.
- From a BPL household, or with a monthly income of not more than ₹15,000.
- Not given a free device of the same kind by any government source in the last 3 years. Faulty or non-working devices can be replaced.
What you get
- Hearing aids are one of the scheme's standard items, given free of cost.
- The scheme also covers walking sticks, crutches, walkers, spectacles, dentures and wheelchairs, among other aids.
- People aged 80 or over can have their devices delivered at home.
How to get one
- ALIMCO, a Government of India company, is the only agency that runs RVY. It holds an assessment camp in the district to identify people who qualify, then a distribution camp to hand over the devices.
- You can also register online on the ARJUN portal (adip.depwd.gov.in): choose Beneficiary Registration, select RVY, verify your mobile number with the OTP, and enter your details, the nearest centre and the aid. You get a registration number by SMS.
- Take your Aadhaar and proof of income (income certificate, BPL card, MGNREGA card or a certificate from your MP, MLA, councillor or gram pradhan) to the centre.
- A medical officer certifies the hearing problem. Where no medical officer is available, ALIMCO's rehabilitation experts can prescribe the hearing aid.
- No UDID card or disability certificate is needed for RVY.
ADIP: for seniors with a certified hearing disability
If your income is above ₹15,000 a month but not more than ₹30,000, or you already have a disability certificate, the ADIP scheme is the other route. It is open to people of any age with at least 40% disability (for hearing loss, roughly 60 dB or more in the better ear). It pays the full cost of the hearing aid if your income is up to ₹22,500 a month and half the cost from ₹22,501 to ₹30,000. You need a UDID card or UDID enrolment number.
RVY and ADIP compared
| Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana | ADIP | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 60 and above | Any age |
| Income limit | BPL, or up to ₹15,000 a month | Up to ₹30,000 a month |
| Cost to you | Free | Free up to ₹22,500 income; 50% from ₹22,501 to ₹30,000 |
| Disability certificate | Not needed (a medical officer certifies the condition) | UDID card or enrolment number with at least 40% disability |
| Run by | Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, through ALIMCO | Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities |
| Register | ARJUN portal (choose RVY) or an ALIMCO camp | ARJUN portal (choose ADIP), a camp or an implementing agency |
Is there a government subsidy for hearing aids in India?
Yes, these two schemes are the government's subsidy for hearing aids. Section 24 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 also asks governments to provide aids and appliances free of cost within notified income limits. Read our guide to the RPwD Act.
Start with a hearing check
Before applying, it helps to know how much hearing loss there is. Common signs in parents and grandparents are turning the TV up, asking people to repeat themselves, and struggling to follow conversation in a noisy room. ÖSEL Foundation runs free hearing screening camps for resident welfare associations and senior citizens' clubs across Delhi NCR, where an audiologist screens each person one to one.
ÖSEL Foundation is a non-profit, not a government office, and does not process scheme applications. At our free hearing screening camps an audiologist can check your hearing and explain the result, which is a useful first step before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hearing aid free for senior citizens in India?
Which scheme gives free hearing aids to senior citizens?
Do senior citizens need a UDID card for a free hearing aid?
How do I register my parent for a free hearing aid?
Can people over 80 get a hearing aid at home?
What if my parent's income is above ₹15,000 a month?
Official sources
- Revised Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana scheme 2020-21 (ALIMCO)
- PIB: Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, 5 December 2023
- PIB backgrounder on senior citizens' schemes, 28 October 2025
- PIB release, 13 August 2026
- ARJUN portal (ADIP and RVY registration)
- ARJUN user manual
- ADIP scheme guidelines applicable from 26 September 2024
- WHO fact sheet: Deafness and hearing loss (3 March 2026)
Checked against these sources on 13 November 2026. Government rules and portals change, so check the official site before you apply. ÖSEL Foundation is a non-profit, not a government office: we cannot approve or track applications, but we are happy to point you in the right direction.
More free guides
Need help with a hearing problem?
ÖSEL Foundation runs free hearing screening camps with resident welfare associations, senior citizens' clubs and community groups across Delhi NCR. If you, a parent or a neighbour cannot hear well, come to a camp or ask us to hold one in your society.