Ministry of Finance
Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
Guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000–₹5,000 per month after age 60; spouse receives same pension after subscriber's death; nominee receives lump sum return of corpus on death of both subscriber and spouse
Monthly/quarterly/half-yearly contribution; monthly pension ₹1,000–₹5,000 after age 60
Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is a government-backed pension scheme for unorganised sector workers launched on 9 May 2015 under the Ministry of Finance and regulated by PFRDA. Subscribers aged 18–40 years make fixed monthly contributions to receive a guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000–₹5,000 after age 60. After the subscriber's death, the spouse continues receiving the same pension for life. On both subscriber and spouse's death, the nominee receives the accumulated pension wealth as a lump sum. Since October 2022, income taxpayers are no longer eligible to join. APY has been extended till FY 2030–31.
Am I Eligible?
Quick check — answer 3 questions
Is your age between 18 and 40 years?
Is your annual family income under ₹1 Cr?
Do you live in India?
Benefit Details
Guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000–₹5,000 per month after age 60; spouse receives same pension after subscriber's death; nominee receives lump sum return of corpus on death of both subscriber and spouse
Provided by Central Government
Monthly/quarterly/half-yearly contribution; monthly pension ₹1,000–₹5,000 after age 60
Eligibility Criteria
Indian citizen aged 18–40 years; must have a savings bank account or post office savings account; account must be Aadhaar-linked with an active mobile number; must NOT be an income taxpayer (as of October 2022 rule); workers without EPFO/ESIC coverage given priority (NPS subscribers can also join)
18 to 40 years
Up to ₹1 Cr / year
Rural & Urban (Both)
Required Documents
💡 Tip: Keep original documents and 2 photocopies ready. Self-attest all photocopies.
How to Apply
Choose Pension Amount
onlineDecide how much monthly pension you want at 60: ₹1,000 / ₹2,000 / ₹3,000 / ₹4,000 / ₹5,000. Your monthly contribution depends on your current age and your pension target. Example: 18 years old wanting ₹5,000 pension → pay ₹210/month. 35 years old wanting ₹5,000 pension → pay ₹902/month.
Enroll via Bank
offlineVisit your bank branch (SBI, PNB, HDFC, BOI, etc.) with Aadhaar and savings account passbook → request APY enrollment → fill the APY subscriber registration form → indicate desired pension amount → give auto-debit consent from your savings account.
Enroll Online via eAPY
onlineGo to enps.nsdl.com → "National Pension System" → "APY eNPS" → enter PAN/Aadhaar → Aadhaar OTP verification → link bank account → choose pension amount → complete enrollment digitally. Confirmation sent by SMS.
Auto-Debit of Monthly Contribution
online / offlineEvery month (or quarterly/half-yearly based on your choice), the contribution is auto-debited from your linked savings account. Ensure sufficient balance on the due date. Default in 1 month → penalty ₹1/month per ₹100; 6 months default → account frozen; 24 months default → account closed.
Receive Pension After 60
offlineOn completing 60 years, submit APY exit form at your bank → specify pension payment account. Your guaranteed monthly pension (₹1,000–₹5,000) is credited monthly for life. On your death, your spouse receives the same pension. On both deaths, nominee receives the accumulated pension wealth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Summary
Related Schemes
Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM)
Guaranteed monthly pension of ₹3,000 after age 60; government matches your monthly contribution rupee for rupee
Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana (VPBY)
Guaranteed pension income at 9.3% p.a. — a ₹15 lakh purchase gives approximately ₹11,625/month; purchase price fully returned to nominee on death; no market risk; government-backed; pension continues for entire lifetime
National Pension System (NPS)
Tax deduction up to ₹1.5 lakh under 80CCD(1) + additional ₹50,000 under 80CCD(1B) — total ₹2 lakh tax saving per year; 60% tax-free withdrawal at retirement; remaining 40% invested in annuity for monthly pension; low-cost, professionally managed market-linked growth over long term
Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)
Assured pension of 50% of average basic pay of the last 12 months of service (for 25+ years of service), a minimum ₹10,000/month pension for 10+ years of service, and 60% family pension on the employee's death
⚠️ Disclaimer: Information is compiled from official government sources for guidance purposes. Eligibility and benefits may vary. Always verify with the official portal or nearest government office before applying.
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