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Social securityCentral schemeLaunched 2015

Atal Pension Yojana — Guaranteed Pension After 60

A pension scheme for workers in the unorganised sector, giving a guaranteed monthly pension of between ₹1,000 and ₹5,000 from the age of 60.

Administered by Ministry of Finance — regulated by PFRDA.

Last updated

Official source last verified 9 August 2026

At a glance

Pension
₹1,000 to ₹5,000 a month from age 60
Join between
Ages 18 and 40
Contribution
Auto-debited from your bank account
Guaranteed by
The Government of India
Regulated by
PFRDA

Who this scheme is for

  • Workers in the unorganised sector without an employer-provided pension.
  • Self-employed people and small traders who want a predictable pension rather than a market-linked one.

Benefits

  • A guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000, ₹2,000, ₹3,000, ₹4,000 or ₹5,000 from the age of 60, depending on the level you choose.
  • The same pension continues to the spouse after the subscriber’s death.
  • The accumulated corpus is returned to the nominee after the death of both the subscriber and the spouse.
  • The pension amount is guaranteed by the Government of India, so it does not depend on market performance.
  • Contributions are auto-debited, which removes the need to remember to pay.

Eligibility

  • Any Indian citizen aged between 18 and 40 with a savings bank account or post office savings account.
  • A valid mobile number and Aadhaar are required for enrolment.
  • Income tax payers are not eligible to join. This restriction was introduced with effect from 1 October 2022 and applies to anyone who is or has been an income tax payer.
  • Only one APY account is permitted per person.

Who is excluded

Exclusions matter as much as eligibility — they are the most common reason an application is rejected after submission.

  • Anyone who is, or has been, an income tax payer — with effect from 1 October 2022.
  • Anyone below 18 or above 40 at the time of joining.

Documents required

  • Aadhaar of the subscriber
  • A savings bank account or post office savings account
  • Mobile number linked to the bank account
  • Nominee details

How to apply

  1. Approach the bank or post office where you hold a savings account, or use the eNPS portal or your bank’s net banking.
  2. Complete the APY registration form, choosing the pension amount you want.
  3. Provide Aadhaar, your mobile number and nominee details.
  4. Give a mandate for the monthly contribution to be auto-debited from your account.
  5. Keep sufficient balance in the account on the debit date — a failed debit attracts a penalty.
  6. You will receive a physical or electronic acknowledgement (PRAN) confirming enrolment.
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority — pfrda.org.inThe official portal for this scheme.https://www.pfrda.org.in/(opens the official website in a new tab)Open an APY account online through eNPSApply directly on the official portal.https://enps.nsdl.com/eNPS/NationalPensionSystem.html(opens the official website in a new tab)

How to check your status

  1. Check your APY account statement through your bank’s net banking, or on the NSDL APY portal.
  2. Statements are also sent periodically to your registered address or email.
  3. Your bank branch can confirm the contribution status and whether any debit has failed.

Why joining earlier costs less

The contribution required depends on two things: the pension you choose and the age at which you join. Because contributions run until you turn 60, joining at 18 means 42 years of small payments; joining at 40 means 20 years of much larger ones.

The difference is substantial — the monthly contribution for the same ₹5,000 pension is several times higher for someone joining at 40 than for someone joining at 18. The exact contribution chart is published by PFRDA and is applied by your bank at enrolment.

What happens if you cannot pay

  • A failed auto-debit attracts a penalty charge, which is added to your account.
  • Continued default can lead to the account being frozen, and eventually closed with the balance returned after deductions.
  • You can change the pension amount, and therefore the contribution, once a year — usually a better option than defaulting.
  • Exit before 60 is permitted only in specified circumstances such as death or terminal illness.

Frequently asked questions

How much pension does Atal Pension Yojana pay?
You choose a level: ₹1,000, ₹2,000, ₹3,000, ₹4,000 or ₹5,000 a month from the age of 60. The amount is guaranteed by the Government of India, and the same pension continues to your spouse after your death.
Can income tax payers join APY?
No. With effect from 1 October 2022, anyone who is or has been an income tax payer is not eligible to join. The scheme is aimed at workers in the unorganised sector.
How much do I need to contribute?
It depends on your age at joining and the pension you choose — the younger you join, the smaller the monthly amount, because it is spread over more years. PFRDA publishes the contribution chart and your bank applies it at enrolment. Ask for the exact figure before signing the auto-debit mandate.
What happens to the money after I die?
The pension continues to your spouse for their lifetime. After both of you, the accumulated corpus is returned to your nominee.

Official sources

Every figure on this page is traceable to the official source below. If a source has changed since the date shown, please tell us and we will correct it.