New Delhi: The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has crossed 8.34 crore enrolments as of 31 October 2025, marking a steady rise in participation across rural and urban regions. Women account for 48 per cent of all subscribers, with over 4.04 crore enrolments recorded so far.
Launched on 9 May 2015, APY aims to provide a universal social security system for citizens between 18 and 40 years of age who hold a savings account with a bank or post office. Subscribers will begin receiving pension benefits from the age of 60, which means payouts for the earliest beneficiaries are expected to begin in 2035. The scheme continues to draw large numbers from the unorganised sector, which remains its primary focus.
Officials noted that multiple outreach and capacity-building measures have supported the rise in enrolments. Awareness drives through print, electronic and social media have been conducted regularly, supported by brochures in 13 vernacular languages. Virtual training programmes have been organised for banking correspondents, bank field staff, self-help group members and bank-sakhis under State Rural Livelihood Missions to expand grassroots awareness.
A range of institutions, including various government ministries, the National Centre for Financial Education, NABARD, the National Rural Livelihood Mission and state missions, have been involved in promoting the scheme. Digital onboarding options, such as e-APY, net banking, mobile applications and bank web portals, have further eased access for new subscribers.
Banks, SLBCs and district-level committees have been holding regular outreach events, and recent nationwide financial inclusion campaigns have focused on pension saturation. APY continues to be implemented through the Department of Posts and a wide network of banks, including public sector, private sector, regional rural, small finance, payments and cooperative banks. These institutions act as Points of Presence for APY and manage the distribution and servicing of subscriber accounts.
“This information was given by Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman in a reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.”
BI Bureau
