Atal Pension Yojana: Contribution Chart, Benefits, and How to Enrol in 2025
Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is a central government pension scheme that guarantees a fixed monthly pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 after the age of 60, designed primarily for workers in the unorganised sector who have no formal pension coverage. Administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) under the Ministry of Finance, APY can be enrolled through any bank account or India Post savings account. This page covers the contribution chart, eligibility, how to enrol, how to check your APY account status, and what happens on exit or death.
What is Atal Pension Yojana?
Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is a defined-benefit pension scheme launched on 9 May 2015 by the Government of India under the Ministry of Finance, and regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The scheme was introduced to extend social security coverage to India's large unorganised sector workforce, domestic workers, construction labourers, street vendors, farmers, and others, who lack access to employer-sponsored provident funds or pension plans.
Under APY, subscribers contribute a fixed monthly amount based on their age at enrolment and the pension amount they choose. In return, they receive a guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000, ₹2,000, ₹3,000, ₹4,000, or ₹5,000 from age 60, for life. On the subscriber's death, the spouse receives the same pension amount for life; on the spouse's death, the accumulated corpus is returned to the nominee. The scheme is administered through all scheduled commercial banks, regional rural banks, cooperative banks, and India Post. A significant eligibility change was introduced in October 2022: individuals who are or have been income taxpayers are no longer eligible to join APY.
Key Benefits of Atal Pension Yojana
| Benefit Type | Amount / Description | Applicable Category |
|---|
| Guaranteed monthly pension | ₹1,000 / ₹2,000 / ₹3,000 / ₹4,000 / ₹5,000 per month | Subscriber, from age 60 onwards |
| Spouse pension on death | Same pension amount as subscriber, for life | Spouse of deceased subscriber |
| Corpus return on death | Accumulated pension corpus returned to nominee | After both subscriber and spouse pass away |
| Government co-contribution | 50% of subscriber's contribution or ₹1,000/year, whichever is lower, for 5 years (for eligible early subscribers who joined before 31 March 2016) | Eligible early joiners only |
| Tax benefit | Contributions eligible for deduction under Section 80CCD(1) up to ₹1.5 lakh; additional ₹50,000 under 80CCD(1B) | All APY subscribers filing ITR |
| Disability / death before 60 | Option to exit; accumulated corpus with interest returned to subscriber or nominee | All subscribers |
Atal Pension Yojana, Contribution Chart
The monthly contribution depends on two variables: the age at which you join APY, and the pension amount you choose. The younger you join, the lower your monthly contribution for the same pension amount.
| Entry Age | ₹1,000/month Pension | ₹2,000/month Pension | ₹3,000/month Pension | ₹4,000/month Pension | ₹5,000/month Pension |
|---|
| 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 |
The maximum entry age is 40 years. Contributions are auto-debited monthly from the subscriber's savings account. Quarterly and half-yearly auto-debit options are also available at banks.
Corpus Accumulated at Age 60 (Approximate)
| Pension Amount Chosen | Approx. Corpus at 60 (for subscriber joining at 18) | Approx. Corpus at 60 (for subscriber joining at 30) |
|---|
| ₹1,000/month | ₹1.7 lakh | ₹1.7 lakh |
| ₹2,000/month | ₹3.4 lakh | ₹3.4 lakh |
| ₹3,000/month | ₹5.1 lakh | ₹5.1 lakh |
| ₹4,000/month | ₹6.8 lakh | ₹6.8 lakh |
| ₹5,000/month | ₹8.5 lakh | ₹8.5 lakh |
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|
| Age at enrolment | 18 to 40 years |
| Citizenship | Indian citizen |
| Bank account | Must hold a savings bank account (scheduled commercial bank, RRB, cooperative bank, or India Post savings account) |
| Aadhaar linkage | Aadhaar and mobile number must be linked to the savings bank account |
| Income tax status | Income taxpayers are NOT eligible to join APY (rule effective from 1 October 2022) |
| Existing APY account | Only one APY account per subscriber is permitted |
| NPS membership | Existing NPS members are eligible to also join APY, provided they meet all other criteria |
| Minimum contribution period | 20 years of contributions required (i.e., if joining at 40, contributions run until age 60) |
Documents Required
| Document | Purpose |
|---|
| Aadhaar card | Mandatory for KYC and account linking |
| Mobile number linked to Aadhaar | For OTP verification during enrolment |
| Savings bank account details | For auto-debit setup; account must be in the subscriber's name |
| Nominee details | Name, date of birth, and relationship of nominee |
| Spouse details (if applicable) | Name and Aadhaar of spouse for spouse pension nomination |
How to Enrol in Atal Pension Yojana
Online, via Net Banking or Mobile Banking
- Log in to your bank's net banking or mobile banking application.
- Navigate to the Government Schemes or Social Security Schemes section.
- Select Atal Pension Yojana and click on Enrol / Subscribe.
- Enter your Aadhaar number and complete OTP-based verification.
- Choose your desired pension amount (₹1,000 to ₹5,000/month).
- Confirm the monthly contribution amount based on your current age.
- Set up auto-debit from your savings account and submit.
- Note your Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN), this is your APY account identifier.
Offline, via Bank Branch or India Post
- Visit your bank branch or post office where you hold a savings account.
- Request the APY subscriber registration form (available at the branch or downloadable from npscra.nsdl.co.in).
- Fill in personal details, nominee information, spouse details, and chosen pension amount.
- Submit the form with a copy of your Aadhaar card.
- The bank sets up auto-debit and issues your PRAN within 7–10 working days.
- An SMS confirmation is sent to your registered mobile number on successful enrolment.
PaisaOne does not process APY enrolments. All enrolments must be done directly through your bank, India Post, or npscra.nsdl.co.in.
How to Check Your APY Account Status
Via NSDL CRA Portal
- Visit npscra.nsdl.co.in
- Click on APY e-PRAN / Transaction Statement View.
- Enter your PRAN number, bank account number, or Aadhaar number.
- View your contribution history, current corpus, and pension details.
Via Your Bank's Net Banking / Mobile App
- Log in to your bank's net banking or mobile banking portal.
- Go to the APY section under Government Schemes or Deposits.
- View account balance, auto-debit status, and next contribution date.
APY Helpline and Grievance
- PFRDA Helpline: 1800-110-708 (toll-free, Monday–Saturday, 9 AM–6 PM)
- Grievance portal: cra-nsdl.com → APY Subscriber Grievance
- Email: apygov@nsdl.co.in
APY Exit Rules and Premature Withdrawal
| Exit Scenario | What Happens |
|---|
| Voluntary exit before age 60 | Allowed only in exceptional circumstances (terminal illness, death). Subscriber receives only their own contributions with net accrued income, after deducting account maintenance charges. |
| Death of subscriber before 60 | Spouse can either continue contributions until subscriber would have reached 60, or opt for lump sum return of corpus. |
| Death of subscriber after 60 | Spouse receives the same monthly pension for life; on spouse's death, the guaranteed corpus is returned to the nominee. |
| Reaching age 60 with 20+ years of contributions | Monthly pension begins automatically; no action needed. |
| Default on contributions | Account becomes inactive after 6 months of non-payment, frozen after 12 months, and deactivated after 24 months with corpus returned after deductions. |
Where to Enrol, Authorised Banks and Channels
| Channel Type | Examples |
|---|
| Public sector banks | SBI, PNB, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Bank of India, Union Bank, Central Bank of India |
| Private sector banks | HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank, Yes Bank |
| Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) | All RRBs across states, contact your local RRB branch |
| Small Finance Banks | AU Small Finance Bank, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, Jana Small Finance Bank, Equitas Small Finance Bank |
| India Post | All post offices offering savings bank accounts |
| Payments Banks | Airtel Payments Bank, India Post Payments Bank, Fino Payments Bank |
