What is Atal Pension Yojana?
Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is a government-backed pension scheme launched in May 2015, primarily for workers in the unorganised sector — domestic workers, construction labourers, drivers, shop assistants, and others without formal retirement benefits.
Administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), APY guarantees a fixed monthly pension from age 60 based on the tier you choose. The earlier you join, the lower your monthly contribution.
Monthly Contribution Chart
Your contribution depends on your age when you join and the pension amount you choose. All figures are monthly contributions in rupees:
📊 Monthly Contribution (₹) by Age and Pension Amount
| Age at Entry | ₹1,000/mo | ₹2,000/mo | ₹3,000/mo | ₹4,000/mo | ₹5,000/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 years | 42 | 84 | 126 | 168 | 210 |
| 20 years | 50 | 100 | 150 | 198 | 248 |
| 25 years | 76 | 151 | 226 | 301 | 376 |
| 30 years | 116 | 231 | 347 | 462 | 577 |
| 35 years | 181 | 362 | 543 | 722 | 902 |
| 39 years | 291 | 582 | 873 | 1,164 | 1,454 |
Contributions are auto-debited from your savings account monthly, quarterly, or half-yearly as you choose.
Who is Eligible?
- Indian citizen aged 18–40 years
- Must have a savings bank account (Jan Dhan account works)
- Mobile number linked to your bank account
- Not already a member of EPF, NPS, or any statutory social security scheme
❌ Income taxpayers are not eligible to join APY since October 2022. If you pay income tax and have already enrolled, your account will be closed and corpus returned.
How to Enrol in APY
- Visit your bank branch or use mobile / net banking
All banks participating in Jan Dhan offer APY. Many banks let you enrol instantly through their app or net banking portal. - Fill the APY subscriber registration form
Provide your Aadhaar, bank account number, nominee details, and choose your pension amount (₹1,000 to ₹5,000). - Keep sufficient balance for first auto-debit
APY auto-debits from your savings account. A penalty of ₹1 per month per ₹100 overdue applies if your account lacks funds. - Receive your PRAN
You will get a Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) to track your contributions at npscra.nsdl.co.in or via the NPS mobile app.
Documents Required
Death & Withdrawal Rules
- After maturity (age 60): Monthly pension for life. After subscriber’s death, same pension to spouse. After both die, full corpus to nominee.
- If subscriber dies before 60: Spouse can continue the account OR take full accumulated corpus as lump sum.
- Voluntary exit before 60: Contributions + net investment returns returned. Government co-contribution (if any) is not returned.
- Change pension amount: Allowed once a year, between April and September.
✓ On death or terminal illness, the full corpus is returned regardless of age — there is no lock-in penalty in these cases.
Official Source
All information on this page is sourced from the official PFRDA portal and NPScra website.
npscra.nsdl.co.in ↗ · PFRDA Helpline: 1800-110-069 (Toll Free)
This page is for informational purposes only. MeraHaq is not affiliated with PFRDA or any government body. Contribution amounts are indicative — always verify with your bank before enrolling.