Were you also hoping for an increase in the ₹5,000 pension amount under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY)? If so, the Government of India has issued an obvious and comprehensive statement in Parliament. Launched for millions of unorganized sector workers, there has been speculation for several days that the government might increase the pension limit to further strengthen this “support” in old age.
However, according to the latest update, there will be no change in the existing rules for now. In today’s special article, we will examine the government’s reasoning for not increasing the pension and the current status of the scheme in detail.
Why is the APY pension amount not being increased
Recently, an important question was asked in the Lok Sabha: Is the government considering increasing the maximum pension limit of ₹5,000 or linking it to inflation to further strengthen the social security of unorganized sector workers? In a written response, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary clarified the situation. He stated that the government currently has no proposal under consideration to increase the pension amount.
The government has given a very practical reason for not increasing the pension amount. The Minister explained that if the minimum pension amount is increased, the monthly subscription amount required by subscribers will also have to be increased. This means that the monthly premium burden on poor and middle-class subscribers will increase. The government does not want to impose any additional financial burden on beneficiaries at this time, so it has decided to continue the Atal Pension Yojana with the current terms and conditions.
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How many Indians trust the Atal Pension Yojana
Even though the pension amount has not been increased, the scheme’s popularity is breaking records. Government data shows that a total of over 84.5 million people have joined the scheme as of November 30, 2025. This number not only reflects the scheme’s widespread reach but also shows how deeply Indian citizens trust government-guaranteed schemes for their secure future.
Regarding pension slabs, the ₹1,000 scheme has proven to be the most popular. Approximately 86.91 percent of the total subscribers, or approximately 73.4 million people, are part of this slab. Meanwhile, 3 percent have registered for a pension of ₹2,000, 1.41 percent for ₹3,000, and only 0.53 percent for a pension of ₹4,000. The number of those receiving the maximum pension of ₹5,000 is approximately 6.87 million, representing 8.15 percent of the total subscribers.
Enrollment is increasing on an annual basis
Launched in May 2015, the scheme has made unprecedented progress over the past decade. While only 2.48 million people joined in the financial year 2015-16, this number will exceed 76 million by the end of 2024-25. This pace hasn’t slowed even in the current financial year 2025-26, with over 84.5 million people enrolled by the end of November.
A major reason for this steadily increasing number is the flexible age for joining the scheme. Any Indian citizen between the ages of 18 and 40 can join. Joining at a younger age also reduces the investment amount. For example, an 18-year-old needs to pay only ₹42 per month for a pension of ₹1,000, which is quite modest considering daily expenses.
The true purpose of the Atal Pension Yojana
The government has clarified that the Atal Pension Yojana has been created specifically for those who are not covered by any formal pension scheme. Its primary objective is to provide financial security to those sections of society who become dependent on others for their needs after retirement. Be it a street vendor, agricultural labourer, or a small worker, this scheme ensures that they keep getting a fixed amount in their hands after the age of 60.
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