UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PFRDA conducts Atal Pension Yojana Annual Felicitation Programme at New Delhi today

Q1. With reference to the Atal Pension Yojana (APY), consider the following statements: 1. It is open to Indian citizens aged 18-40 years who hold a savings bank account or post office savings account. 2. The subscriber must contribute for a minimum of 20 years to be eligible for the guaranteed pension. 3. The guaranteed monthly pension becomes payable to the subscriber from the age of 55 years. 4. A subscriber may opt to make contributions on a monthly, quarterly or half-yearly basis. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. It is open to Indian citizens aged 18-40 years who hold a savings bank account or post office savings account.
  2. The subscriber must contribute for a minimum of 20 years to be eligible for the guaranteed pension.
  3. The guaranteed monthly pension becomes payable to the subscriber from the age of 55 years.
  4. A subscriber may opt to make contributions on a monthly, quarterly or half-yearly basis.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. Under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY), which one of the following is the highest guaranteed monthly pension slab a subscriber can opt for on attaining the age of 60 years?

  • A. Rs 2,000
  • B. Rs 3,000
  • C. Rs 4,000
  • D. Rs 5,000

Q3. As per Section 4 of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013, the Authority consists of a Chairperson and how many Whole-Time Members appointed by the Central Government?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q4. Under which department of the Government of India does the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) function as the nodal regulator for the National Pension System and Atal Pension Yojana?

  • A. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
  • B. Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
  • C. Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance
  • D. Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance

Q5. Among the three Pradhan Mantri Jan Suraksha schemes — PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY — how many have an upper entry-age limit greater than 50 years?

  • A. Only one
  • B. Only two
  • C. All three
  • D. None

Q6. With reference to the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) Annual Felicitation Programme 2026, which one of the following is the nodal Department of the Union Government under which the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) operationalises the scheme?

  • A. Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance
  • B. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
  • C. Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
  • D. Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development

Q7. In the context of the APY Annual Felicitation Programme 2026, which one of the following best describes a 'State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC)', ten of which were awarded for their FY 2025-26 APY performance?

  • A. An inter-institutional forum at the state level chaired by a designated convenor bank that coordinates the activities of commercial banks, RBI, NABARD and state government for banking development
  • B. A statutory body constituted under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to supervise the functioning of cooperative banks within a state
  • C. A committee of the Reserve Bank of India that fixes priority sector lending targets for scheduled commercial banks in each state
  • D. A coordination body of State Finance Departments that determines the centre-state share of contributions under social security schemes

Q8. With reference to the erstwhile Swavalamban Yojana (which has since been subsumed under the Atal Pension Yojana), consider the following statements: 1. It was launched in 2010-11 to extend old-age income security to workers in the unorganised sector. 2. The Government of India co-contributed Rs 1,000 per year to each eligible account for a period of five years, subject to the subscriber's own annual contribution lying within a prescribed band. 3. It was operated under the NPS-Lite architecture of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. 4. Eligibility for entry was restricted to Indian citizens between 18 and 40 years of age. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified as features of the Swavalamban Yojana?

  1. It was launched in 2010-11 to extend old-age income security to workers in the unorganised sector.
  2. The Government of India co-contributed Rs 1,000 per year to each eligible account for a period of five years, subject to the subscriber's own annual contribution lying within a prescribed band.
  3. It was operated under the NPS-Lite architecture of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority.
  4. Eligibility for entry was restricted to Indian citizens between 18 and 40 years of age.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. With reference to the transition from the Swavalamban Yojana to the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) in 2015, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike Swavalamban Yojana, the Atal Pension Yojana provides a defined pension amount guaranteed by the Government of India, payable on the subscriber attaining the age of 60. 2. The entry-age eligibility band was narrowed from 18-60 years under Swavalamban Yojana to 18-40 years under the Atal Pension Yojana. 3. On the launch of APY, existing Swavalamban subscribers were required to enrol afresh in APY and were not automatically migrated to the new scheme. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike Swavalamban Yojana, the Atal Pension Yojana provides a defined pension amount guaranteed by the Government of India, payable on the subscriber attaining the age of 60.
  2. The entry-age eligibility band was narrowed from 18-60 years under Swavalamban Yojana to 18-40 years under the Atal Pension Yojana.
  3. On the launch of APY, existing Swavalamban subscribers were required to enrol afresh in APY and were not automatically migrated to the new scheme.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. The guaranteed defined-benefit pension payable under the Atal Pension Yojana to the subscriber, and thereafter to the spouse for lifetime, is administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority under which one of the following statutes?

  • A. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013
  • B. The Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952
  • C. The Insurance Act, 1938
  • D. The Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007

Q11. With reference to the benefits available to the spouse and the nominee of a subscriber under the Atal Pension Yojana, consider the following statements: 1. On the death of the subscriber after attaining 60 years of age, the same monthly pension is payable to the spouse for lifetime. 2. On the death of both the subscriber and the spouse, the pension wealth accumulated up to the subscriber's age of 60 years is returned to the nominee. 3. On the premature death of the subscriber before attaining 60 years of age, the spouse has the option to continue contributions to the APY account for the remaining vesting period. 4. In the absence of a registered nominee, the accumulated corpus on the death of the subscriber lapses to the Consolidated Fund of India. Which of the above statements is/are NOT correct?

  1. On the death of the subscriber after attaining 60 years of age, the same monthly pension is payable to the spouse for lifetime.
  2. On the death of both the subscriber and the spouse, the pension wealth accumulated up to the subscriber's age of 60 years is returned to the nominee.
  3. On the premature death of the subscriber before attaining 60 years of age, the spouse has the option to continue contributions to the APY account for the remaining vesting period.
  4. In the absence of a registered nominee, the accumulated corpus on the death of the subscriber lapses to the Consolidated Fund of India.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q12. During FY 2025-26, approximately how many new subscribers were enrolled under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY), as announced at the PFRDA Annual Felicitation Programme held in May 2026?

  • A. About 75 lakh
  • B. About 1.05 crore
  • C. About 1.35 crore
  • D. About 2.10 crore

Q13. With reference to the Atal Pension Yojana (APY), consider the following statements: 1. It was launched in May 2015, replacing the earlier Swavalamban Yojana (NPS-Lite). 2. The scheme draws its statutory backing from the PFRDA Act, 2013. 3. The minimum period of contribution required from a subscriber under the scheme is 20 years. 4. Along with PMJJBY and PMSBY, it was launched as part of the Jan Suraksha package in 2018. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It was launched in May 2015, replacing the earlier Swavalamban Yojana (NPS-Lite).
  2. The scheme draws its statutory backing from the PFRDA Act, 2013.
  3. The minimum period of contribution required from a subscriber under the scheme is 20 years.
  4. Along with PMJJBY and PMSBY, it was launched as part of the Jan Suraksha package in 2018.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q14. Under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY), how many distinct monthly guaranteed minimum pension slabs are available to a subscriber on attaining the age of 60 years?

  • A. Three
  • B. Four
  • C. Five
  • D. Six

Q15. With reference to the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) in comparison with related social-security architecture, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike its predecessor Swavalamban Yojana (NPS-Lite), APY assures the subscriber a defined minimum pension amount that is guaranteed by the Government of India. 2. APY was launched on the same day as Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana as part of the Jan Suraksha package of 2015. 3. APY is open exclusively to workers in the unorganised sector, and employees of the organised sector are statutorily barred from enrolling under it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike its predecessor Swavalamban Yojana (NPS-Lite), APY assures the subscriber a defined minimum pension amount that is guaranteed by the Government of India.
  2. APY was launched on the same day as Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana as part of the Jan Suraksha package of 2015.
  3. APY is open exclusively to workers in the unorganised sector, and employees of the organised sector are statutorily barred from enrolling under it.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3