APY contribution chart (monthly)
| Age at joining | ₹1,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹3,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | ₹42 | ₹84 | ₹126 | ₹168 | ₹210 |
| 20 | ₹50 | ₹100 | ₹150 | ₹198 | ₹248 |
| 25 | ₹76 | ₹151 | ₹226 | ₹301 | ₹376 |
| 30 | ₹116 | ₹231 | ₹347 | ₹462 | ₹577 |
| 35 | ₹181 | ₹362 | ₹543 | ₹722 | ₹902 |
| 40 | ₹291 | ₹582 | ₹873 | ₹1164 | ₹1454 |
Monthly contribution for each guaranteed monthly pension, paid until age 60. Quarterly and half-yearly amounts, and every age from 18 to 40, are in the APY calculator.
Atal Pension Yojana at a glance
| Pension | ₹1,000, ₹2,000, ₹3,000, ₹4,000 or ₹5,000 a month from 60, guaranteed for life |
|---|---|
| Who can join | Citizens aged 18–40 with a savings account, not income tax payers |
| Contributions | Auto-debited monthly, quarterly or half-yearly until 60 |
| After the subscriber | Same pension to the spouse for life |
| After both | Corpus to the nominee: ₹1.7 lakh to ₹8.5 lakh |
| Change pension | Once a year, in April |
| Run by | PFRDA, through banks and post offices; continued until 2030-31 |
Worked example: ₹5,000 a month
- Joining at 25: ₹376 a month for 35 years, ₹1,57,920 in all. The pension pays that back in about 2.6 years, and then continues for life and to your spouse.
- Joining at 35: ₹902 a month for 25 years, ₹2,70,600 in all.
The earlier you join, the less you pay in total for the same pension. Keep in mind that ₹5,000 in 30 years will buy far less than today; see the inflation calculator.
Late payments, changes and exit
- Late payment: a small penalty of ₹1 to ₹10 a month (by contribution size) is charged on overdue instalments, and the account can be frozen and then closed if payments stop for long. Keep the balance in your savings account on the debit date.
- Changing the pension: you can move up or down to another pension amount once a year, in April; the contribution changes to match.
- Voluntary exit: you get back your own contributions with the returns actually earned, minus charges, and lose the guarantee.
- Death before 60: the spouse can continue the account until the subscriber would have turned 60 and then receive the pension, or close it and take the money.
How to join APY
Ask your bank or post office for the APY form, or join through your bank’s net banking or app where offered, with your savings account, Aadhaar and mobile number. Choose the pension amount and payment frequency and name your spouse and a nominee. Your PRAN and statements are available on the NSDL/Protean APY pages and through your bank.
APY compared with the alternatives
- NPS has no pension guarantee but no cap either, and is open to taxpayers.
- PPF builds a tax-free lump sum rather than a pension.
- PMJJBY and PMSBY add life and accident cover for under ₹500 a year, through the same bank account.
Frequently asked questions
Who can join Atal Pension Yojana?
Any Indian citizen aged 18 to 40 with a savings account in a bank or post office, who is not and has never been an income tax payer. Since 1 October 2022, income tax payers cannot join.
How much do I have to pay for ₹5,000 pension in APY?
It depends on your age when you join: ₹210 a month at 18, ₹376 at 25, ₹577 at 30, and ₹1454 at 40, paid until you turn 60.
What happens to APY if the subscriber dies?
The spouse receives the same pension for life. After both have died, the nominee receives the corpus: ₹8.5 lakh for a ₹5,000 pension. If the subscriber dies before 60, the spouse can continue paying until the subscriber would have turned 60, or take the money out.
Can I exit Atal Pension Yojana before 60?
Yes, voluntarily, but you get back only your own contributions with the returns actually earned on them, minus charges; the guaranteed pension is lost. Exit before 60 is otherwise allowed on death or a terminal illness.
Is Atal Pension Yojana still open in 2026?
Yes. In January 2026 the Union Cabinet approved continuing the scheme until 2030-31, with government support for outreach and for any shortfall in the guaranteed pension.
Does APY give a tax deduction?
Contributions qualify under the NPS deduction, Section 80CCD(1), under the old regime. Since only people who are not income tax payers can join, this rarely matters.
Sources
- PFRDA – Atal Pension Yojana scheme details and contribution chart
- PIB – Cabinet approves continuation of Atal Pension Yojana till 2030-31
- PFRDA – Atal Pension Yojana
Last checked on 6 October 2026. The contribution chart is fixed by the government and has not changed since the scheme began in 2015.