New Delhi, May 7: India’s retirement system has witnessed significant growth. The government announced on Thursday that the assets managed under the National Pension System (NPS) have reached ₹15.95 lakh crore, while the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has accumulated ₹51,400 crore.
An official statement revealed that the number of subscribers enrolled in the NPS has exceeded 2.17 crore, with the APY recording 8.96 crore enrollments. This reflects a consistent and robust increase in India’s pension framework.
The Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) has also seen a notable rise. As of April 2026, the number of contributing members has surged to 7.98 crore.
Non-contributory social pension schemes continue to serve as a vital source of income support. By April 2026, over 2.92 crore beneficiaries were covered under the central government’s social pension scheme. During the same period, state governments provided pension assistance to more than 1.41 crore beneficiaries.
A significant portion of India’s pension system still relies on defined benefit pension schemes. This includes pensions for central government employees, comprising over 34 lakh defense pensioners and 14 lakh railway pensioners.
The statement emphasized that strengthening retirement security has become a crucial public policy priority, given the increasing life expectancy and changing employment patterns.
In this context, India’s pension system has continuously evolved over time, incorporating various policy decisions and institutional reforms. The government’s focus is now on enhancing social security coverage and improving services through digital platforms.
India’s pension framework is now based on multiple pillars, including defined benefit plans, contributory schemes, statutory payroll-based plans for organized private sector employees, and tax-funded social assistance programs.
At the central level, the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP) is being implemented in both rural and urban areas to provide social assistance to eligible beneficiaries. This program offers financial support to economically vulnerable individuals.
By August 2025, states and union territories began providing additional assistance ranging from ₹50 to ₹3,800 per month under the NSAP. As a result, the average monthly pension in most states and union territories has reached approximately ₹1,000.
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