Lok Sabha Question No. 5840 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Pension Schemes for Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Arun Kumar Sagar

## 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

- 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 oldage 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.

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