Executive Summary:
This document responds to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding the Atal Pension Yojana (APY). It provides data on subscriber enrollment, female participation, and representation from Tamil Nadu. The document clarifies the government's stance on increasing the maximum guaranteed pension payout and outlines measures taken to promote APY, particularly among unorganized sector workers in Tamil Nadu. Data is current as of July 31, 2025, unless otherwise indicated.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Enrollment Data:**
* Total APY subscribers up to FY 2024-25: 7,60,90,481
* New enrollments in FY 2025-26 (as of 31.07.2025): 42,14,736
* Total APY subscribers (as of 31.07.2025): 8,03,05,217
* **Female Participation:**
* Total female subscribers (as of 31.07.2025): 3,87,05,968
* Female subscribers in Tamil Nadu (as of 31.07.2025): 29,86,438
* Total subscribers in Tamil Nadu (as of 31.07.2025): 52,35,234
* The percentage enrolment for women was higher than for men at 52% in FY 2023-24, and 54.64% in FY 2024-25.
* **Pension Payout:**
* The APY scheme offers flexible minimum guaranteed pension of Rs. 1000, Rs. 2000, Rs. 3000, Rs. 4000, and Rs. 5000 per month.
* There are no current plans to increase the maximum guaranteed pension payout from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 per month due to concerns about increased subscription costs for subscribers.
* **Awareness and Enrollment Measures:**
* The Government and PFRDA are undertaking measures to increase APY awareness and enrollment, including:
* Advertisements in print, electronic, and social media.
* Physical outreach programs and townhall meetings.
* Virtual capacity building programs for Banking Correspondents (BCs), field staff of Banks, Self Help Group (SHG) members, banksakhis of State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs).
* Engagement with various Ministries, NCFE, NABARD, NRLM, and SRLM.
* **Effectiveness Evaluation:**
* APY's effectiveness is assessed based on annual, monthly, and weekly enrollment trends.
Impact Analysis
* **Current and Prospective APY Subscribers:**
* Impact: The decision to maintain the current pension payout structure impacts subscribers by preserving the existing subscription costs.
* Action Required: No immediate action is required. Subscribers should remain aware of the scheme's terms and conditions.
* **Government and PFRDA:**
* Impact: Requires continued effort in implementing awareness and enrollment measures to expand APY coverage, particularly in the unorganized sector and among women.
* Action Required: Continue ongoing awareness campaigns and enrollment programs, and monitor enrollment trends to assess effectiveness.
* **Banking Correspondents, Bank Staff, SHG Members, and SRLMs:**
* Impact: These entities play a crucial role in propagating APY to eligible beneficiaries.
* Action Required: Participate in capacity-building programs and actively promote APY enrollment.
Key Entities Referenced
Atal Pension Yojana APY: A government-backed pension scheme in India targeted towards workers in the unorganized sector.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India, specifically mentioned in the context of APY enrolments and outreach programs.
Ministry of Finance: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for financial matters.
Department of Financial Services: A department under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
SHRI MALAIYARASAN D: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question in Lok Sabha.
SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY: The Minister of State for Finance who answered the question in Lok Sabha.
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority PFRDA: The regulatory body for pension funds in India, involved in increasing awareness and coverage of APY.
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development NABARD: An apex development finance institution in India, involved in spreading awareness and coverage of APY.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
*****
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3930
ANSWERED ON MONDAY, 18 AUGUST, 2025/ SRAVANA 27, 1947 (SAKA)
SUBSCRIBERS ENROLLED UNDER APY IN TAMIL NADU
3930. SHRI MALAIYARASAN D
Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of subscribers enrolled under Atal Pension Yojana (APY) up to FY 2024- 25 along with the
new enrolments in FY 2025–26;
(b) the share of female participants and the representation from Tamil Nadu in the overall subscribers;
(c) whether the Government proposes to increase the maximum guaranteed pension payout from Rs. 5,000 to
Rs. 10,000 per month, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the expected timeline for rollout of the proposed increased pension benefit;
(e) the measures taken by the Government to educate and enroll workers of unorganised sector in Tamil Nadu
under APY and the manner in which the impact is being monitored; and
(f) whether any evaluation reports are scheduled to assess APY’s effectiveness, especially among women and
beneficiaries from southern States?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE
(SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)
(a) The gross enrolments under Atal Pension Yojana (APY) across country up to FY 2024-25 and new enrolments
during 2025-26 (as on 31.07.2025) are 7,60,90,481 and 42,14,736 respectively.
(b) The gross enrolments as on 31.07.2025 under APY across country are 8,03,05,217, out of which the female
participants are 3,87,05,968. In Tamil Nadu, the gross APY enrolments as on 31.07.2025 are 52,35,234, out of which
29,86,438 are female participants.
(c) & (d) The APY scheme offers flexible minimum guaranteed pension of Rs. 1000, Rs. 2000, Rs. 3000, Rs. 4000,
and Rs. 5000 per month. Accordingly, per month subscription amount presently varies from Rs. 42 to Rs. 1454
based on age of joining and pension amount chosen. Any increase in pension amount is likely to increase the
subscription amount substantially and put further burden on the subscriber. Presently, it has been decided to continue
the scheme with same terms and conditions and not to further increase the pension and consequential subscription
amount.
(e) The Government and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) have, inter-alia, taken
the following steps to increase awareness and coverage of APY in the country, including in Tamil Nadu:
Periodic advertisements are published in print, electronic, and social media for awareness creation.
Physical APY outreach program and townhall meetings are organised at various locations pan India.
Virtual capacity building programs for Banking Correspondents (BCs) and field staff of Banks, Self Help Group
(SHG) members, bank-sakhis of State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs) are being organised to propagate APY
to eligible beneficiaries.
Engagement with various Ministries of Government of India, National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE),
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM),
and SRLM to spread awareness and coverage of APY.
(f) Effectiveness on APY is assessed based on the annual, monthly, and weekly enrolment trends. In the FY 2023-
24, the percentage enrolment for women was higher than for men at 52%. Further, in FY 2024-25, the participation
of women rose to 54.64%..
******