SRINAGAR: More than 3.16 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir have enrolled under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) since its launch in 2015, including over 1.06 lakh women, according to data presented by the Union Ministry of Finance in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
As on June 30, 2026, Jammu and Kashmir had recorded 3,16,130 gross APY enrolments, of which 1,06,101 were women subscribers, the ministry said in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2361 on the implementation of the pension scheme in the unorganised sector.
The figures show that women account for around one-third of the total APY subscribers in Jammu and Kashmir, while the scheme has been rolled out across all States and Union Territories and districts in the country.
Ladakh recorded 8,101 gross enrolments under APY, including 2,834 women subscribers, as on June 30, 2026.
At the national level, gross enrolments under the scheme since its inception stood at 9,29,47,723, including 4,56,98,133 women subscribers. The government said the scheme has witnessed steady growth in enrolment over the decade, with increasing participation of women and youth.
The APY was launched on May 9, 2015, to create a universal social security system, particularly for the poor, underprivileged and workers in the unorganised sector. It is open to Indian citizens aged between 18 and 40 years who have a savings account with a bank or post office.
Since October 1, 2022, income tax payers have been excluded from joining the scheme as part of efforts to target guaranteed pension benefits towards eligible unorganised sector workers.
The scheme provides guaranteed minimum monthly pensions of Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000, with monthly contributions ranging from Rs 42 to Rs 1,454 depending on the subscriber’s age at the time of joining and the pension amount selected. Subscribers become eligible for pension benefits on attaining 60 years of age, subject to payment of all due contributions.
The Asset Under Management (AUM) under APY stood at approximately Rs 57,296 crore as on June 30, 2026, the Ministry of Finance said.
The government and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) have undertaken several measures to expand awareness and enrolment, particularly among women and people engaged in agriculture and allied activities in rural areas.
These include awareness programmes in Hindi, English and other languages, outreach drives in coordination with banks and State Level Bankers’ Committees and Lead District Managers, and virtual capacity-building programmes for banking correspondents, bank field staff, Self Help Group members and bank sakhis associated with State Rural Livelihood Missions.
The government also uses print, electronic and social media advertisements, while the APY subscriber information brochure is available in 13 languages. The scheme is monitored through annual targets for banks and regular performance review meetings with APY service providers, banking committees and Lead District Managers.
Various Union ministries, the National Centre for Financial Education, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, the National Rural Livelihood Mission and State Rural Livelihood Missions are also involved in spreading awareness and expanding coverage.
The scheme is implemented through public sector banks, private sector banks, regional rural banks, small finance banks, payments banks, cooperative banks and the Department of Posts, enabling enrolment through bank and post office savings accounts.
According to the ministry’s data, APY enrolment has risen substantially over the years. Annual gross enrolment increased from 24,84,895 in 2015-16 to 1,35,13,713 in 2025-26, while women’s enrolment rose from 9,42,244 to 74,47,015 over the same period. For 2026-27, up to June 30, gross enrolment stood at 33,43,529, including 18,56,531 women subscribers.
