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Atal Pension Yojana Milestone: Over 8.3 Crore Enrolled, Reveals FM Sitharaman

The Atal Pension Yojana has achieved a significant enrolment milestone, surpassing 8.34 crore subscribers. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman provided this update to the Lok Sabha, highlighting the scheme's reach. Notably, nearly half of all enrollees are women, demonstrating strong participation. The government continues to run awareness campaigns to further expand coverage, especially in rural areas.

Key Points: Atal Pension Yojana Enrolment Crosses 8.34 Crore Says Sitharaman

  • Gross enrolment under the pension scheme has reached over 8.34 crore Indians as of October 2025
  • Female enrolment stands at 4.04 crore, representing 48% of total subscribers
  • The scheme targets workers in the unorganised sector for universal social security
  • Pension payouts for subscribers are scheduled to begin from the year 2035 onwards
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Gross enrolment under Atal Pension Yojana surpasses 8.34 crore: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informs Parliament that gross enrolment under the Atal Pension Yojana has surpassed 8.34 crore subscribers as of October 2025.

"Hence, the pension benefit under APY is expected to start from 2035 onwards. However, the gross enrolment under Atal Pension Yojana as on 31.10.2025 is 8,34,13,738 - Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman"

New Delhi, Dec 1

Gross enrolment under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY), a bid to create a universal social security system for all, especially the poor, the under-privileged and the workers in the unorganised sector, has reached 8, 34, 13, 738 (as on October 31), the Parliament was informed on Monday.

APY was launched in 2015 with the objective of creating a universal social security system for all Indians. It is open to all citizens of India between 18 and 40 years of age who have a savings account in a bank or post office.

As per the Scheme, the subscriber will receive pension benefits on attaining the age of 60 years.

"Hence, the pension benefit under APY is expected to start from 2035 onwards. However, the gross enrolment under Atal Pension Yojana as on 31.10.2025 is 8,34,13,738," Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the Lok Sabha in a written reply to a question.

As on October 31, the female gross enrolment under APY is 4,04,41,135, which is 48 per cent of the total enrolment, she noted.

Further, in Bihar, the female gross enrolment under APY is 42,07,233, which is 57 per cent of the total enrolment in the state.

"As on 31.10.2025, a total of 7,153 Bank branches and 461 Post Office branches are enrolling people into APY in Bihar," the Finance Minister stated.

The government and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) have taken several steps to increase awareness and coverage of APY across the country, including rural and remote areas of Bihar.

These include periodic advertisements; APY Subscribers Information Brochure in 13 vernacular languages; and virtual capacity building programmes for Banking Correspondents (BCs) and field staff of Banks, Self Help Group (SHG) members, and bank-sakhis of State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs).

During the last five years, such programmes have been conducted across various districts of Bihar, including in Muzaffarpur, Patna, Bhojpur, and Nalanda.

Recently, financial inclusion campaigns for pension saturation were organised pan-India India including 8,093 such campaigns in Bihar, said Sitharaman.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rajesh Q
Good numbers, but the real test is in 2035 when pensions actually start. The government must ensure the fund is managed well and inflation doesn't eat away the value. Also, awareness in rural areas needs to be a continuous effort, not just campaigns.
A
Aman W
I enrolled my domestic help in this scheme last year. She was hesitant at first, but explaining the long-term security convinced her. More people need to know about it. Banks should make the process even simpler.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has studied social security systems, reaching over 8 crore enrolments in less than a decade is a significant achievement for a developing economy. The focus on vernacular languages and local agents (Bank Sakhis) is key to this success.
N
Nikhil C
Bahut badhiya! My chacha in Bihar just signed up through the post office. He's a small farmer and always worried about his old age. Now he has some peace of mind. The post office network is a real strength for schemes like this.
K
Kavitha C
While the enrolment figure is impressive, I hope the government also looks at increasing the pension amount in the future. With rising costs, what seems sufficient today might not be in 2035. Regular reviews are essential.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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