National Pension Scheme Subscribers Merely Over 60,000: Who Is Eligible To Enroll?

The National Pension Scheme (NPS) has 60,538 beneficiaries registered under it as of November 26, 2025. Per the reply in the Lok Sabha, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sobha Karadlaje, provided this data on the question asked by parliamentarian Krishna Prasad Tenneti. The scheme was launched in 2019 for self-employed individuals and traders. However, many may confuse it with the National Pension System (NPS), which is for all workers, whether organised or unorganised.

However, unlike the National Pension System, the National Pension Scheme has very few takers. According to the written reply by Karandaje on December 1, 2025, out of the total subscribers to the scheme, the highest are from Uttar Pradesh (16,031), followed by Chhattisgarh (6,631 ), and Andhra Pradesh (5,962). However, she clarified that constituency-wise data is not maintained for this scheme.

Although it has been six years since its launch, not many people are aware of it, and several of them confuse it with the national pension system.

What Is The National Pension Scheme?

The scheme is open for Indian residents aged between 18 and 40 years of age, who are not taxpayers. Like the national pension system and Atal Pension Yojana (APY), this is also a contributory scheme, and offers a guaranteed monthly pension of Rs 3,000 (Rs 36,000 annually) after the age of 60. The minimum contribution in the scheme starts with a minimum of Rs 55 and a maximum of Rs 200.

This is aimed to cater to the small entrepreneurs, such as shopkeepers, small business owners, real estate brokers, commission agents, small traders, self-employed individuals, etc. Notably, those who are members of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Employees’ State Insurance Corporation scheme (ESIC), or National Pension System – government model are not eligible to subscribe to this scheme.

For these small-sized entrepreneurs, the turnover should not be more than Rs 1.5 crore to be eligible for the scheme.

The scheme ensures a fixed pension to the subscribers and, after their death, to their spouse.

Low Awareness And The Government’s Action

The government has taken measures in this regard. Per the reply, it has held periodic review with the states and union territories (UTs), regular meetings with the state Common Service Centre heads, chief secretaries of states/UTs, and Department of Financial Services, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)  to increase awareness around this pension scheme.