Lok Sabha Question No. 979 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-02
Subject: Atal Pension Scheme
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri P V Midhun Reddy, Shri Naveen Jindal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES *****

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 979

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2024 / AGRAHAYANA 11, 1946 (SAKA)

## ATAL PENSION SCHEME

## 979. Shri Naveen Jindal: Shri P V Midhun Reddy

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of subscribers enrolled with Atal Pension Scheme (APY) during the last five years and the current year along with the details of Pension provided under APY, State/UT wise and year-wise;
- (b) whether the Government has reviewed the functioning of the scheme and has taken any new initiatives for awareness creation about the APY with a view to broad base enrollment as the beneficiaries remained miniscule; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

- (a) The total number of subscribers enrolled under APY during the last five years is as under:

| FY                         | Enrolments under APY   |
|----------------------------|------------------------|
| 2019-20                    | 68,83,373              |
| 2020-21                    | 79,14,142              |
| 2021-22                    | 99,11,479              |
| 2022-23                    | 1,10,00,601            |
| 2023-24                    | 1,22,93,490            |
| 2024-25 (as on 31.10.2024) | 63,32,008              |

Atal Pension Yojana (APY) was launched on 09.05.2015, with the objective of creating a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, the under-privileged and the workers in the unorganised sector. It is open to all citizens of India between 18-40 years of age having a savings bank account in a bank or post-office. As per the scheme, subscriber will receive pension benefit on attaining the age of 60 years. Hence, the pension benefit under APY is expected to start from 2035 onwards

- (b) and (c) Measures taken to review the scheme and steps undertaken to increase coverage of APY are as under:
- i. Regular monitoring of Banks and State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBCs) is undertaken in respect of achievements.
- ii. The performance of APY is monitored through regular review meetings with Banks at senior level.
- iii. Periodic  advertisements  are  published  in  print,  electronic,  and  social  media  for  awareness creation.
- iv. Physical APY outreach program and townhall meetings are organised at various locations pan India.
- v. APY Subscribers Information Brochure is available online in 13 vernacular languages as well as single-page  flyer  on  APY  in  English  and  22  languages  as  per  the  Eight  Schedule  of  the Constitution of India is also available for expanding accessibility and understanding.
- vi. 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.
- vii. 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.
- viii. Activating online channels such as e-APY, net-banking, mobile app and bank's web-portal, for easy online onboarding.
- ix. APY Help Desk and Chatbot at Protean - CRA are operational for assisting APY subscribers.
- x. QR Codes for APY User services, APY Transactional services, APY Information services, APY Podcast/Videos, APY Call Centre are available for creating awareness regarding the benefits of APY and services that are being offered to APY subscribers.

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