Atal Pension Yojana: Benefits, eligibility, age of joining, contribution period and other important details

Launched by PM Narendra Modi-led government, the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is a Government of India Scheme. It was launched on 9th May, 2015, with the objective of creating a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, the under-privileged and the workers in the unorganised sector. Here are top things to know about Atal Pension Yojana:-

- APY became operational w.e.f. 1st June, 2015, and is open to all citizens of India between 18-40 years of age having a savings bank account in a bank or post-office

- The APY focusses 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

- Benefits of APY:  Fixed pension for the subscribers ranging between Rs. 1000 to Rs. 5000, if he joins and contributes between the age of 18 years and 40 years. The contribution levels would vary and would be low if subscriber joins early and increase if he joins late.

- Eligibility for APY: Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is open to all bank account holders who are not members of any statutory social security scheme. 

- Age of joining and contribution period: The minimum age of joining APY is 18 years and maximum age is 40 years. Therefore, minimum period of contribution by the subscriber under APY would be 20 years or more.

-Focus of APY: Mainly targeted at unorganised sector workers.

-Enrolment and Subscriber Payment: All bank account holders under the eligible category may join APY with auto-debit facility to accounts, leading to reduction in contribution collection charges.

-Enrolment agencies:    All Points of Presence (Service Providers) and Aggregators under Swavalamban Scheme would enrol subscribers through architecture of National Pension System.  

-Operational Framework of APY:  It is Government of India Scheme, which is administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. The Institutional Architecture of NPS would be utilised to enrol subscribers under APY.

-Funding of APY: Government would provide 
(i) fixed pension guarantee for the subscribers;
 
(ii) would co-contribute 50% of the subscriber contribution or Rs. 1000 per annum, whichever is lower, to eligible subscribers; and 

(iii) would also reimburse the promotional and development activities including incentive to the contribution collection agencies to encourage people to join the APY.

Age of Joining, Contribution Levels, Fixed Monthly Pension and Return of Corpus to the nominee of subscribers

The Table of contribution levels, fixed monthly pension to subscribers and his spouse and return of corpus to nominees of subscribers and the contribution period is given below. For example, to get a fixed monthly pension between   Rs. 1,000 per month and Rs. 5,000 per month, the subscriber has to contribute on monthly basis between Rs. 42 and Rs. 210, if he joins at the age of 18 years. For the same fixed pension levels, the contribution would range between        Rs. 291 and Rs. 1,454, if the subscriber joins at the age of 40 years. 

Table of contribution levels, fixed monthly pension of Rs. 1,000 per month to subscribers and his spouse and return of corpus to nominees of subscribers and the contribution period under Atal Pension Yojana

Table of contribution levels, fixed monthly pension of Rs. 2,000 per month to subscribers and his spouse and return of corpus to nominees of subscribers and the contribution period under Atal Pension Yojana

Table of contribution levels, fixed monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 per month to subscribers and his spouse and return of corpus to nominees of subscribers and the contribution period under Atal Pension Yojana

Table of contribution levels, fixed monthly pension of Rs. 4,000 per month to subscribers and his spouse and return of corpus to nominees of subscribers and the contribution period under Atal Pension Yojana

Table of contribution levels, fixed monthly pension of Rs. 5,000 per month to subscribers and his spouse and return of corpus to nominees of subscribers and the contribution period under Atal Pension Yojana