SRINAGAR: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of the Atal Pension Yojana until the financial year 2030–31, along with extended government funding support for promotional, developmental and gap funding activities, officials said.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The approval ensures continued government backing for expanding the scheme’s outreach among unorganised sector workers and maintaining its long-term viability.
According to officials, government support under the scheme will continue in the form of funding for awareness generation, capacity building and other promotional and developmental activities. In addition, gap funding will be provided to meet viability requirements and ensure the sustainability of the pension scheme over the extended period.
The Atal Pension Yojana was launched on May 09, 2015, to provide old age income security to workers in the unorganised sector. Under the scheme, subscribers are assured a guaranteed minimum monthly pension ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000, starting at the age of 60, depending on their contribution.
Officials said the scheme has seen significant uptake since its launch. As of January 19, 2026, more than 8.66 crore subscribers have been enrolled under APY, making it one of the largest contributory pension schemes in the country.
The Cabinet noted that continued government support is necessary to sustain awareness campaigns, strengthen institutional capacity and bridge financial gaps, particularly to ensure inclusion of low income and informal sector workers.
