- The Atal Pension Yojana ((APY) is a Government of India Scheme launched on 9th May, 2015.
- It was launched by the Central Government on 9th May 2015 to address the risks of old age of the people working in unorganized sector and who are not covered under any statutory social security scheme
Benefit 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.
Related: Atal Pension Yojana Is A Pension Scheme Run By The Government
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 utilized 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.
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