“Suraksha Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Vidya
Lakshmi Karyakram mark a shift from Jan Dhan to Jan Kalyan.”
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
- The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) was launched to create a universal social security system for
all Indians, especially the poor, the under-privileged and the workers in the unorganised sector. - It is an initiative of the Government to provide financial security and cover future exigencies
for the people in the unorganized sector. - The scheme was launched on 9 May, 2015, and was operationalized on1 June, 2015.
- The APY is focussed on all citizens in the unorganised sector, who join the National Pension System (NPS) administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and who are not members of any statutory social security scheme.
- APY can be subscribed by any Indian citizen in the age group of 18-40 years having a bank account.
- Under the APY, subscribers would receive the fixed pension of Rs. 1000 – Rs. 5000 per month, at the age of 60 years, depending on their contributions, which in turn would vary on the age of joining the APY.
For more information please visit : National portal of India/Atal Pension Yojana
Benefits of Atal Pension Yojana
The uniqueness of APY is attributable to three distinctive benefits.
- First, it provides a minimum guaranteed pension on attaining 60 years of age.
Subscribers would receive the guaranteed minimum monthly pension of Rs. 1000 or
Rs. 2000 or Rs. 3000 or Rs. 4000 or Rs. 5000 at the age of 60 years, based on the
contributions made by the subscriber after joining the scheme. - Secondly, the amount of pension is guaranteed for lifetime to spouse on death of the
subscriber. - Lastly, in the event of death of both the subscriber and the spouse, entire pension corpus
is paid to the nominee.
Further, the minimum pension would be guaranteed by the Government, i.e., if the
accumulated corpus based on contributions earns a lower than estimated return on
investment and is inadequate to provide the minimum guaranteed pension, the Central
Government would fund such inadequacy. Alternatively, if the returns on investment
are higher, the subscribers would get enhanced pension benefits.
Eligibility for APY
- Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is open to all bank account holders who are not members of any
statutory social security scheme. - Any individual who is eligible to receive benefits under the APY will have to furnish proof of
possession of Aadhaar number or undergo enrolment under Aadhaar authentication. - An APY subscriber will have to get the Aadhaar number recorded in his or her APY pension account
and also in his/ her savings account where the periodic pension contribution instalments are
debited and government co-contribution is to be credited.
Operational Framework of APY
APY is being administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) which has taken several steps to create awareness and increase the outreach of the Scheme. Some of the steps are given below:
- Conducting outreach programms in collaboration with Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and State Level Bankers’ Committees (SLBCs).
- Conducting periodic meetings with bank officials for reviewing the progress of implementation of
APY across the country. - Capacity building of bank branch officials/banking correspondents through various training programs so that information regarding the Scheme and its benefits can be disseminated to
the potential/eligible population. - Periodic advertisements in print and electronic media.
