UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Atal Pension Yojana (APY) Crosses Historic Milestone: Total Gross Enrolments Surpass 9 Crore
Q1. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), which administers the Atal Pension Yojana, acquired statutory status by virtue of an Act of Parliament passed in which year?
- A. 2013
- B. 2003
- C. 2005
- D. 2015
Q2. With reference to the administrative and institutional architecture of the Atal Pension Yojana, consider the following:
1. It is administered by the PFRDA under the framework of the National Pension System.
2. Its nodal ministry is the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance.
3. Subscriber contributions are invested through the NPS framework.
4. Any shortfall in the guaranteed minimum pension is met by the concerned State Government.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- It is administered by the PFRDA under the framework of the National Pension System.
- Its nodal ministry is the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance.
- Subscriber contributions are invested through the NPS framework.
- Any shortfall in the guaranteed minimum pension is met by the concerned State Government.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q3. The three Jan Suraksha schemes — PMJJBY, PMSBY and Atal Pension Yojana — trace their origin to an announcement made in which Union Budget?
- A. 2015-16
- B. 2014-15
- C. 2016-17
- D. 2013-14
Q4. Under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), the annual premium payable per member is how many rupees?
Q5. Consider the following statements comparing the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) with other Jan Suraksha schemes:
1. The eligible entry age for APY is 18-40 years, whereas for PMSBY it is 18-70 years.
2. The exclusion of income-tax payers from fresh enrolment, effective 1 October 2022, applies equally to both APY and PMJJBY.
3. Enrolment in both APY and PMJJBY requires the applicant to hold a savings bank or post-office account.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The eligible entry age for APY is 18-40 years, whereas for PMSBY it is 18-70 years.
- The exclusion of income-tax payers from fresh enrolment, effective 1 October 2022, applies equally to both APY and PMJJBY.
- Enrolment in both APY and PMJJBY requires the applicant to hold a savings bank or post-office account.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. With reference to the eligibility rules and benefit design of the Atal Pension Yojana, consider the following statements:
1. An Indian citizen aged between 18 and 40 years can join APY.
2. A savings bank account or post-office savings account is required to join APY.
3. Since 1 October 2022, a person who is or has been an income-tax payer cannot open a new APY account.
4. Every APY subscriber is guaranteed a fixed monthly pension of exactly Rs 5,000 after the age of 60.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- An Indian citizen aged between 18 and 40 years can join APY.
- A savings bank account or post-office savings account is required to join APY.
- Since 1 October 2022, a person who is or has been an income-tax payer cannot open a new APY account.
- Every APY subscriber is guaranteed a fixed monthly pension of exactly Rs 5,000 after the age of 60.
- A. 4 only
- B. 3 and 4
- C. 1 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q7. With reference to the origin of the Atal Pension Yojana (APY), consider the following statements:
1. APY replaced the Swavalamban Yojana, which had been introduced in 2010.
2. APY was launched on 9 May 2015 at Kolkata.
3. Existing Swavalamban Yojana subscribers were migrated to APY unless they opted out.
4. The Swavalamban Yojana it replaced was meant for organised-sector employees covered by the EPFO.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- APY replaced the Swavalamban Yojana, which had been introduced in 2010.
- APY was launched on 9 May 2015 at Kolkata.
- Existing Swavalamban Yojana subscribers were migrated to APY unless they opted out.
- The Swavalamban Yojana it replaced was meant for organised-sector employees covered by the EPFO.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q8. The following are claims about the cumulative gross-enrolment milestones of the Atal Pension Yojana:
1. It crossed 4 crore enrolments in April 2022.
2. It crossed 8 crore enrolments in August 2024.
3. It crossed 9 crore enrolments in April 2026.
4. It crossed 6 crore enrolments in May 2015.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It crossed 4 crore enrolments in April 2022.
- It crossed 8 crore enrolments in August 2024.
- It crossed 9 crore enrolments in April 2026.
- It crossed 6 crore enrolments in May 2015.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 3 only
- D. 2 and 3
Q9. During FY 2025-26 — the highest-ever single-year performance since inception — the Atal Pension Yojana added approximately how many new subscribers?
- A. 1.35 crore
- B. 90 lakh
- C. 1.10 crore
- D. 2.00 crore
Q10. Consider the following statements about the Atal Pension Yojana's 2026 milestones:
1. It crossed 9 crore total gross enrolments on 21 April 2026.
2. By 18 May 2026, cumulative enrolments had reached about 9.10 crore.
3. As of 18 May 2026, its Assets Under Management exceeded Rs 54,000 crore.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It crossed 9 crore total gross enrolments on 21 April 2026.
- By 18 May 2026, cumulative enrolments had reached about 9.10 crore.
- As of 18 May 2026, its Assets Under Management exceeded Rs 54,000 crore.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1 only
Q11. Consider the following statements about the guarantee and benefit structure of the Atal Pension Yojana:
1. For a given pension slab, the required monthly contribution is higher for a person joining at 40 than for one joining at 18.
2. The guaranteed minimum monthly pension slabs range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000.
3. On the subscriber's death the spouse receives the same pension, and on the death of both, the accumulated corpus is returned to the nominee.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- For a given pension slab, the required monthly contribution is higher for a person joining at 40 than for one joining at 18.
- The guaranteed minimum monthly pension slabs range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000.
- On the subscriber's death the spouse receives the same pension, and on the death of both, the accumulated corpus is returned to the nominee.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q12. In the Atal Pension Yojana enrolment data, the reported figure of 55.14% women for FY 2025-26 precisely refers to which one of the following?
- A. The share of women among the new subscribers enrolled during FY 2025-26
- B. The share of women among all cumulative subscribers since the scheme's inception
- C. The share of the total APY corpus contributed by women subscribers
- D. The share of women subscribers who opted for the Rs 5,000 pension slab