Senior Citizens & Pensions Schemes

Atal Pension Yojana is a government-guaranteed pension scheme run by PFRDA that pays a fixed monthly pension of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 from age 60. Indian citizens aged 18 to 40 who are not income-tax payers can join at a bank branch or post office, contributing from Rs 42 a month at entry age 18.

National Pension System is a market-linked retirement scheme regulated by PFRDA that any Indian aged 18 to 70 can join with as little as Rs 500. NPS Tier I is the locked retirement account, Tier II a flexible savings add-on. Tier I contributions qualify for an extra Rs 50,000 deduction under Section 80CCD(1B).

Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana is the umbrella senior citizens scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, bringing 5 components together: senior citizen homes, free assistive devices, state action plans, employment matching and elder-care enterprises. NGOs apply for grants online at grants-msje.gov.in; seniors call Elderline 14567.

Employees' Pension Scheme 1995 is a compulsory pension scheme run by EPFO for organised-sector employees, paying a monthly pension from age 58 after 10 years of contributory service. Employers divert 8.33% of wages up to the Rs 15,000 ceiling, Rs 1,250 a month; into the pension fund. Members claim pension using Form 10D.

NPS Vatsalya is a pension scheme regulated by PFRDA under the Ministry of Finance that lets a parent or guardian open a retirement account for a child below 18 with a minimum contribution of Rs 1,000 a year. Launched on 18 September 2024, the account converts to a regular NPS account at 18. Open it on eNPS or at any Point of Presence.

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan is a voluntary contributory pension scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment that pays unorganised workers an assured Rs 3,000 a month after age 60. Workers aged 18 to 40 earning up to Rs 15,000 a month contribute Rs 55 to Rs 200 monthly, matched equally by the government, and enrol at any Common Service Centre.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is a Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment that gives free assisted-living devices; walking sticks, wheelchairs, hearing aids, spectacles and artificial dentures; to BPL senior citizens aged 60 and above with monthly income up to Rs 15,000. Registration happens at ALIMCO assessment camps.

Central Government Pensioners' Grievance and Digital Life Certificate services let a pensioner lodge a pension complaint free on CPENGRAMS and submit the annual life certificate digitally using Aadhaar face authentication. The toll-free helpline is 1800-11-1960, and the November 2025 DLC campaign covered about 2,000 cities and towns across India.

Elderline is the national toll-free helpline for senior citizens on 14567, run by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in all States and Union Territories. Elderline operates 8 AM to 8 PM on all 7 days and gives free information, guidance, emotional support and field rescue. No form is needed, simply dial 14567.

Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens is the AVYAY component that gives grant-in-aid to NGOs and state bodies to run old age homes for 25 seniors, women's homes for 50, continuous care homes for 20 and physiotherapy clinics. The ministry supported 639 projects. Organisations apply online at grants-msje.gov.in; individuals cannot.

NPS-Traders is a voluntary contributory pension scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment paying shopkeepers, retail traders and self-employed persons an assured Rs 3,000 a month after age 60. Entrants aged 18 to 40 with turnover up to Rs 1.5 crore contribute Rs 55 to Rs 200 monthly, matched equally by the government. Enrol at a Common Service Centre.

SCOPE is the employment-exchange component of Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana, run by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment for senior citizens aged 60 and above. SCOPE matches experienced older people with employers on the portal at scw.dosje.gov.in, which listed about 1,572 job openings. Registration is free and online.

SAGE is the start-up support component of Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana, giving equity investment of up to Rs 1 crore per project to companies building elder-care products and services, routed through IFCI Venture Capital Funds with government equity capped at 49%. Start-ups under 10 years old with turnover up to Rs 25 crore apply online.

State Action Plan for Senior Citizens is the AVYAY component under which the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment funds 100% of approved State and UT plans for elderly welfare, training geriatric caregivers, cataract surgery drives and state-specific activities. States apply with a 5-year strategy and annual plans; individuals cannot apply.