Atal Pension Yojana: The Complete Guide to Eligibility, Benefits, and APY Status

25^th Nov 2025...

Published By : Team 811

Key Takeaways

The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is a government-backed pension scheme designed mainly for workers in the unorganised sector, offering a guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000–₹5,000 after age 60.
Anyone aged 18 to 40, with a savings bank account and who is not an income-tax payer, can join the scheme. Aadhaar-based verification is compulsory.
APY ensures strong financial security for families: the spouse receives the same pension for life, and after both pass away, the nominee gets the accumulated corpus (₹1.7 lakh–₹8.5 lakh).
Contributions are small, affordable, and auto-debited, with younger subscribers paying lower monthly amounts due to a longer contribution period.
You can apply through banks, post offices, net banking, or the eNPS portal, making enrolment simple and accessible.
APY status, contributions, and statements can be checked online using PRAN, bank account number, or registered mobile number.
Exit is allowed at age 60 or earlier only in special cases like terminal illness or death. Voluntary early exit may lead to loss of government co-contribution.
A stable savings account such as a Kotak 811 digital savings account helps ensure smooth auto-debits and easy online monitoring of your APY contributions.

Many Indians, especially those working in the unorganised sector, do not have access to formal pension plans. With irregular incomes and limited savings options, planning for retirement can feel uncertain. To support such citizens and encourage long-term financial stability, the Government of India introduced the Atal Pension Yojana.

The APY is designed to help individuals build a steady pension through small, regular contributions. It aims to make old-age income security accessible to people who may not have employer-backed retirement benefits or long-term savings plans.

This guide explains the scheme in a simple way, including Atal Pension Yojana eligibility, key features, how to check your Atal Pension Yojana status, and how to access the Atal Pension Yojana login services online.

What Is Atal Pension Yojana?

The Atal Pension Yojana is a pension scheme launched by the Government of India to provide long-term financial security to citizens, especially those working in the unorganised sector. It was introduced in 2015 to help people build a steady income for their retirement years through small, regular contributions.

The scheme gives individuals more stability in old age by ensuring a guaranteed monthly pension once they turn 60. It is designed to support people who may not have employer-backed retirement benefits and want a simple, reliable way to plan for their future.

Key Features of Atal Pension Yojana

Before understanding the contribution structure or eligibility rules, it helps to know the main features of the Atal Pension Yojana.

Subscribers receive a guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000, ₹2,000, ₹3,000, ₹4,000 or ₹5,000 once they turn 60. The pension amount depends on the contribution chosen at the time of joining.
The spouse continues to receive the same pension amount after the subscriber’s death, ensuring financial support for the family.
After the death of both the subscriber and the spouse, the nominee receives the accumulated pension corpus. Depending on the plan, this amount can range from ₹1.7 lakh to ₹8.5 lakh.
Contributions vary based on the subscriber’s age and the pension amount selected. Younger subscribers pay lower monthly contributions because they contribute for a longer period.
All contributions are auto-debited from the subscriber’s savings bank account every month, quarter or half-year for convenience.
If investment returns fall below expectations, the Government of India guarantees the minimum pension by covering the shortfall. If returns are higher, subscribers may receive enhanced benefits.

Eligibility Criteria for Atal Pension Yojana

Individuals must meet all the conditions below to join the Atal Pension Yojana. These criteria help the government ensure that the scheme reaches citizens who genuinely need old-age financial security.

The applicant must be a citizen of India.
The applicant must have a savings bank account to enable automatic contribution payments.
The minimum age to join is 18 years, and the maximum age is 40 years.
The pension will begin only after the subscriber turns 60 years old.
From 1 October 2022, anyone who is or has ever been an income-tax payer is not eligible to join the scheme.

Documents Required for Atal Pension Yojana

Applicants need to provide a few essential documents to join the Atal Pension Yojana. These documents help verify identity, age and bank details before the account is activated.

Aadhaar card of the applicant
Savings bank account details or passbook
Mobile number linked with Aadhaar for OTP verification
Proof of age (Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, or birth certificate)
Proof of residence, if required by the bank
Nominee details and identity proof

Banks may ask for additional documents only if there are discrepancies during verification.

Benefits of Atal Pension Yojana

The Atal Pension Yojana offers several benefits that make it a dependable option for retirement planning, especially for workers in the unorganised sector. The scheme provides predictable income and financial protection for both the subscriber and their family.

Subscribers receive a fixed monthly pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 depending on the plan chosen. This amount is guaranteed by the Government of India.
If the subscriber passes away after 60, the spouse continues to receive the same pension amount for life.
After the death of both the subscriber and spouse, the nominee receives the accumulated pension corpus, which can range from ₹1.7 lakh to ₹8.5 lakh depending on the plan.
Monthly contributions are small, especially for younger subscribers. The amount increases with age but remains accessible for most individuals.
Contributions are automatically deducted from the linked savings account, making the process simple and hassle-free.
If returns on the pension fund are lower than expected, the government covers the shortfall to ensure the promised pension. If returns are higher, subscribers may receive enhanced benefits.

Contribution Structure of Atal Pension Yojana

The amount a subscriber pays under the Atal Pension Yojana depends on two factors:

Their age at the time of joining the scheme, and
The pension amount they choose (₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per month).

Younger applicants pay a lower monthly contribution because they contribute for a longer duration. Older applicants pay a higher amount, as the contribution period is shorter. All payments are auto-debited from the subscriber’s savings bank account every month, quarter or half-year.

Below is an indicative table of contribution to be made for a guaranteed pension of ₹ 1,000 per month.

Age of Joining	Years of Contribution	Indicative Monthly Contribution
18 years	42 years	₹42
20 years	40 years	₹50
25 years	35 years	₹76
30 years	30 years	₹116
35 years	25 years	₹181
40 years	20 years	₹291

These figures are helpful for quick reference and show how contributions increase as the joining age increases.

How to Apply for Atal Pension Yojana

Individuals can join the Atal Pension Yojana through banks, post offices, net banking or the official eNPS portal. The process is simple and requires basic personal and Aadhaar details.

Apply Online Through Net Banking

Many banks allow customers to register for APY directly through their internet banking account.

Log in to your bank’s net banking portal.
Search for Atal Pension Yojana under government schemes or social security options.
Fill in your basic information and nominee details.
Give consent for auto-debit of monthly contributions.
Submit the form to complete registration.

Apply Online Through the eNPS Portal

Applicants can also join APY through the official National Pension System website:

1. Visit the eNPS portal: https://enps.nsdl.com.

2. Select “Atal Pension Yojana”.

3. Choose “APY Registration”.

4. Fill in the basic details and complete KYC using any one of the following:

Offline KYC – Upload Aadhaar XML file
Aadhaar OTP KYC – Verification through OTP sent to Aadhaar-linked mobile
Virtual ID (VID) KYC – Use Aadhaar virtual ID for verification

5. After submitting basic information, an acknowledgement number is generated.

6. Enter personal details, select the pension amount and choose the contribution frequency.

7. Fill nominee information and proceed to eSign on the NSDL page.

8. Once Aadhaar OTP is verified, the APY account is successfully created.

Apply Through Your Bank Branch

Visit your bank and request the Atal Pension Yojana registration form.
Fill in your details and nominee information.
Provide Aadhaar and bank proof for verification.
The bank will enable auto-debit and confirm registration through SMS.

Apply Through Post Offices

Post offices offering APY follow the same process as banks. Applicants fill the form, complete Aadhaar verification and activate auto-debit for monthly contributions.

Atal Pension Yojana Login & Online Services

Subscribers can view their APY account details, check contributions and download statements through the official online portals. These services make it easier to track the status of the scheme without visiting a bank branch.

Steps to Log In

Visit the eNPS or NPS Trust website.
Go to the Atal Pension Yojana section.
Enter your PRAN (Permanent Retirement Account Number) or your registered mobile number.
Provide the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
Access your APY dashboard.

Services Available After Login

Once logged in, subscribers can use the following online services:
Check APY account status and contribution history.
Download monthly and annual statements.
Update nominee details.
Change contribution frequency (monthly, quarterly or half-yearly).
View pension amount and scheme details.
Check if any contributions or debits are pending.

These online tools help ensure transparency and make it easy for subscribers to track their APY account from anywhere.

How to Check Atal Pension Yojana Status

Subscribers can check the status of their Atal Pension Yojana account online to confirm whether their contributions are being deducted on time and whether their account is active. The process is simple and works through the official NPS platforms.

You can view your APY details using the eNPS website.

Visit https://enps.nsdl.com.
Go to the Atal Pension Yojana section
Select the option to check APY status
Enter your PRAN, bank account number or registered mobile number
Confirm the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile
Your APY status will appear on the screen

The dashboard shows details such as contribution amount, debit status, pension plan chosen and nominee information.

What Information You Can See

When checking your Atal Pension Yojana status, you can view:

Whether your APY account is active
Latest contribution debited from your account
Pending or missed contributions
Pension amount selected
Nominee and spouse details
Statement of past payments

Check Status Through Your Bank

Some banks also allow customers to check APY contribution status through:

Net banking
Mobile banking app
Bank branch enquiry

This is useful if you want to confirm whether monthly auto-debits are happening successfully.

Exit and Withdrawal Rules Under Atal Pension Yojana

The Atal Pension Yojana is designed as a long-term pension scheme, so subscribers are expected to remain enrolled until they turn 60. However, the scheme provides clear rules for exit, withdrawal and refunds in special situations.

Exit at 60 Years of Age

Subscribers receive their guaranteed monthly pension once they turn 60.
The pension amount depends on the contribution slab chosen at the time of joining.
Payments continue throughout the subscriber’s lifetime.

Withdrawal in Exceptional Circumstances (Before 60 Years)

Early exit is allowed only in rare cases such as:

The death of the subscriber, or
Serious or terminal illness as defined under the PFRDA Exit Regulations.

In such cases:

The accumulated pension wealth is paid to the subscriber or nominee, depending on the situation.

Voluntary Exit Before 60 (For Those Who Received Government Co-Contribution Earlier)

If a subscriber chooses to exit the scheme voluntarily before turning 60:

They will receive only their own contributions plus the net interest earned.
The Government’s co-contribution (and interest on that amount) will not be returned.

Exit Rules for Income-Tax Payers (Joined After 1 October 2022)

If a subscriber who enrolled on or after 1 October 2022 is later found to be an income-tax payer on or before the date of joining:

Their APY account will be closed, and
The total accumulated wealth will be refunded to the subscriber.

Conclusion

The Atal Pension Yojana offers a simple and dependable way for people to secure a steady income in their old age. The scheme is mainly targeted at the poor, the under privileged and workers in the unorganised sector. These groups often do not have access to formal pension plans or structured retirement savings. By allowing small and manageable contributions during working years, APY helps ensure that individuals can rely on a guaranteed pension after they turn 60.

Since APY uses automatic deductions from a savings account, having a stable and easy to use bank account becomes important. A digital savings account like Kotak 811 can make this process smoother. It allows quick online account opening, flexible access and simple management of monthly contributions through a mobile phone.

FAQs

1. When will I receive my Pension?

Subscribers start receiving their monthly pension after they turn 60 years of age. The pension amount depends on the plan chosen at the time of joining.

2. What will happen if the contribution gets delayed?

If the account does not have enough balance for auto-debit, a small penalty is added. The bank retries the debit in the next cycle. Multiple missed payments may freeze the account, which can be reactivated after clearing dues.

3. How many APY accounts I can open?

Only one Atal Pension Yojana account is allowed per person.

4. Whether Aadhaar Number is compulsory for joining the scheme?

Aadhaar has been included under Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act for the Atal Pension Yojana. Eligible individuals must provide an Aadhaar number or complete Aadhaar enrolment for authentication.

5. Whether NRI is eligible to open APY Account?

Yes, NRI in the age group 18-40 years of age having a bank account with APY POP is eligible to open APY account.