New Delhi, Feb. 21 -- The Delhi government is set to launch within a month a large-scale verification drive of beneficiaries under its old age pension scheme, in a bid to remove ineligible recipients and streamline the distribution of welfare benefits, senior officials aware of the matter said on Friday.

According to Delhi government data, more than 435,000 senior citizens are currently enrolled under the scheme. Beneficiaries aged between 60 and 69 years receive a monthly pension of Rs.2,000, while those aged 70 and above are entitled to Rs.2,500 per month.

Officials said the government has partnered with a public sector undertaking (PSU) to conduct the verification exercise, and that it is the first such comprehensive review since the...