Parliament Question: Pension Schemes for Workers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5840 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026 PENSION SCHEMES FOR WORKERS †5840. SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR: Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state: (a) the details of pension schemes for workers in the country; (b) the details of provisions for unorganised sector in the said schemes; (c) the details of number of workers benefited from pension schemes in Shahjahanpur Lok Sabha Constituency; (d) the details of problems being faced in payment of pension in the country; and (e) the details of impact of the said schemes on economic security of workers? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE) (a) to (e): The Central Government has introduced the following contributory pension schemes for workers in the unorganised sector. (i) The Atal Pension Yojana was launched on 09 May 2015 with the objective of creating a universal social security system for all citizens of India, particularly the poor, the underprivileged, and workers in the unorganised sector. The scheme is open to all Indian citizens between the ages of 18 and 40 years who are not income taxpayers and who have a savings bank account or post office savings account. Under the scheme, subscribers are entitled to receive a guaranteed pension benefit upon attaining the age of 60 years. (ii) Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM):The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) scheme was launched in February, 2019 in order to provide old age protection to the workers of the unorganised sector such as construction workers, home-based workers, street vendors, domestic workers and other similar categories. This is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme. Under the scheme, a monthly assured pension of Rs. 3000/- is Contd..2/-::2:: provided to unorganised workers after attaining the age of 60 years, and the spouse is eligible for 50% of the pension as family pension. Workers in the age group of 18–40 years whose monthly income is Rs. 15,000/- or less and who are not members of EPFO/ESIC/NPS (Government funded) and are not income tax payers are eligible to join the scheme. The monthly contribution by the beneficiary ranges from Rs. 55/- to Rs. 200/- depending upon the entry age of the beneficiary. Under the scheme, an equal matching contribution is paid by the Central Government. Enrolment in the scheme is done through the Common Service Centres (CSCs), which have a network of about 4 lakh centres across the country. Eligible unorganised workers can also self-enrol by visiting the portal www.maandhan.in. (iii) National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self-Employed Persons (NPS-Traders): The National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self-Employed Persons was launched in September, 2019. This is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme that provides a monthly assured pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years to small and working traders, shopkeepers and self-employed persons. Traders, shopkeepers and self-employed persons in the age group of 18–40 years with an annual turnover not exceeding Rs. 1.5 crore, who are not members of EPFO/ESIC/NPS (Government funded)/PM-SYM and are not income tax payers, are eligible to join the scheme. The monthly contribution by the beneficiary ranges from Rs. 55/- to Rs. 200/- depending upon the entry age of the beneficiary, and an equal matching contribution is paid by the Central Government. Enrolment in the scheme is done through the Common Service Centres (CSCs), which have a network of about 4 lakh centres across the country. In addition, eligible persons can also self-enrol by visiting the portal www.maandhan.in. (iv) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY): It is an old- age pension scheme for all landholding Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) in the country. It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for individuals in the entry age group of 18 to 40 years, with a provision for payment of a monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 upon attaining the age of 60 years. The monthly contribution by the beneficiary ranges from Rs. 55 to Rs. 200, depending upon the entry age of the beneficiary. The pension payouts under APY will commence from 2035, while those under PM-SYM, NPS-Traders and PM-KMY will commence from 2039. ****