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The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana (PM-SYM) is a voluntary pension scheme launched by the Government of India to provide old-age protection to workers in the unorganized sector. If you are a street vendor, domestic worker, agricultural labourer, construction worker, or anyone earning ₹15,000 or less per month without any formal pension cover, this scheme guarantees you a monthly pension of ₹3,000 after age 60 — and your contribution can be as low as ₹55 per month if you enroll at 18.
As of July 2026, over 54 lakh beneficiaries have been enrolled under PM-SYM across India, with the government actively pushing enrollment drives in both urban and rural areas. This article covers everything you need to know about the scheme in 2026.
PM-SYM was announced in the Union Budget 2019 and is administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The scheme operates through the LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) as the pension fund manager and uses the existing network of Common Service Centres (CSCs) for enrollment.
The core idea is simple: you contribute a small amount every month based on your entry age, the government contributes an equal matching amount, and after you turn 60, you receive a guaranteed pension of ₹3,000 per month for the rest of your life.
Official website: maandhan.in
Not everyone can enroll in PM-SYM. The scheme is specifically designed for workers who fall outside the formal social security net. Here are the conditions you must meet:
Every subscriber who pays contributions regularly until age 60 receives a fixed pension of ₹3,000 per month. There are no variable payout tiers — everyone gets the same ₹3,000 regardless of how long or how much they contributed (as long as contributions are made until age 60).
If the subscriber passes away after age 60, the spouse is entitled to 50% of the pension, i.e., ₹1,500 per month, for their lifetime. If both the subscriber and spouse pass away, the accumulated corpus (total contributions plus returns) is returned to the nominee.
If the subscriber dies before reaching 60, the spouse has two options:
Your monthly contribution depends entirely on your age at the time of joining. The earlier you enroll, the less you pay. The government contributes an equal matching amount, so your total monthly contribution is double what you pay out of pocket.
| Entry Age | Your Monthly Contribution (₹) | Government Contribution (₹) | Total Monthly Contribution (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 years | 55 | 55 | 110 |
| 19 years | 58 | 58 | 116 |
| 20 years | 70 | 70 | 140 |
| 21 years | 72 | 72 | 144 |
| 22 years | 76 | 76 | 152 |
| 23 years | 80 | 80 | 160 |
| 24 years | 85 | 85 | 170 |
| 25 years | 90 | 90 | 180 |
| 26 years | 95 | 95 | 190 |
| 27 years | 100 | 100 | 200 |
| 28 years | 110 | 110 | 220 |
| 29 years | 120 | 120 | 240 |
| 30 years | 130 | 130 | 260 |
| 31 years | 140 | 140 | 280 |
| 32 years | 145 | 145 | 290 |
| 33 years | 150 | 150 | 300 |
| 34 years | 160 | 160 | 320 |
| 35 years | 170 | 170 | 340 |
| 36 years | 180 | 180 | 360 |
| 37 years | 185 | 185 | 370 |
| 38 years | 190 | 190 | 380 |
| 39 years | 195 | 195 | 390 |
| 40 years | 200 | 200 | 400 |
Key takeaway: An 18-year-old who enrolls and pays just ₹55 per month (with the government adding another ₹55) for 42 years will receive ₹3,000 per month after 60 — a significant return. Even at 40, the maximum out-of-pocket cost is only ₹200 per month.
Enrollment under PM-SYM is done primarily through Common Service Centres (CSCs). There is no direct online self-enrollment portal — you need to visit a CSC in person or get assistance through a CSC VLE (Village Level Entrepreneur).
You can check your PM-SYM account balance, contribution history, and other details by visiting maandhan.in and using your Aadhaar number or subscriber ID.
The documentation for PM-SYM is minimal, keeping in mind that the target beneficiaries are informal workers who may not have many formal documents. You need:
No income certificate is required. The scheme operates on self-declaration of income — you simply declare that your monthly income is ₹15,000 or below.
According to data shared by the Ministry of Labour and Employment (as of July 29, 2026), over 54 lakh (5.4 million) beneficiaries have been enrolled under PM-SYM. While this is a significant increase from earlier years, it still covers less than 1% of India’s estimated 50+ crore unorganized workforce, indicating massive scope for growth.
The government conducted a special enrollment drive in urban areas from January 15 to February 15, 2026. CSCs across cities were directed to actively identify and enroll eligible unorganized workers. The Labour Ministry has emphasized increasing women’s participation, which has been growing steadily.
The scheme remains active in 2026 with no changes to the core structure — ₹3,000 fixed pension, matching government contribution, and enrollment through CSCs. The official website (maandhan.in) continues to be the primary portal for information and account management.
The central government continues to allocate funds for PM-SYM in the annual budget. The matching contribution by the government (equal to the subscriber’s contribution) makes the scheme extremely affordable — essentially, the government pays half your pension fund for you.
Both PM-SYM and APY are government-backed pension schemes, but they serve different segments of the population. Here is a clear comparison:
| Feature | PM-SYM (Shram Yogi Maandhan) | Atal Pension Yojana (APY) |
|---|---|---|
| Target Group | Unorganized sector workers only (income ≤₹15,000/month) | Any Indian citizen (savings bank account holder), including salaried and self-employed |
| Pension Amount | Fixed ₹3,000/month at 60 | Choice of ₹1,000 / ₹2,000 / ₹3,000 / ₹4,000 / ₹5,000 per month |
| Age Limit | 18 to 40 years | 18 to 40 years |
| Government Contribution | 50% matching contribution (equal to subscriber’s amount) | Co-contribution of ₹1,000/year for 5 years (only for those who joined before March 31, 2016, and are not taxpayers) |
| Enrollment Channel | Common Service Centres (CSCs) only | Banks and post offices |
| Exclusion | Cannot be a member of EPFO, ESIC, NPS, APY, or a taxpayer | Taxpayers can join; those with other pension schemes may be excluded |
| Administered By | Ministry of Labour and Employment via LIC | Ministry of Finance via PFRDA |
| Official Website | maandhan.in | npscra.nsdl.co.in |
In short: if you are an unorganized worker earning up to ₹15,000/month and not covered by any other scheme, PM-SYM is the better deal because of the 50% government matching contribution. If you earn above ₹15,000 or are already in the organized sector, APY is the scheme for you.
No. If you are already a member of APY, EPFO, ESIC, or NPS, you are not eligible for PM-SYM. You must not be covered under any other statutory social security scheme.
If your auto-debit fails, you have a grace period. Interest and a small penalty may be charged for missed payments. If contributions are stopped entirely for an extended period, the account may become dormant. Visit your nearest CSC to reactivate it.
No. PM-SYM offers a fixed pension of ₹3,000 per month. There is no option to choose a higher pension tier under this scheme.
You can voluntarily exit PM-SYM. If you exit before 10 years of contributions, only your own contributions (without government share or interest) will be refunded. After 10 years of contributions but before age 60, you receive your share plus interest.
No. The age criteria (18–40 years) and income criteria (≤₹15,000/month) are the same for all categories. There is no special relaxation based on gender or caste.
The pension of ₹3,000 per month is credited directly to your linked savings bank account or Jan Dhan account through direct benefit transfer (DBT).
Yes. You can choose to pay contributions monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or annually. You can change the frequency by visiting your CSC.
There is no GST on the contribution amount. The pension received is also generally exempt from income tax for unorganized workers under PM-SYM, given the income eligibility criteria.
PM Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana is one of the most affordable pension schemes available for India’s unorganized workforce. For as little as ₹55 per month (if enrolled at 18), with the government matching your contribution, you secure a guaranteed ₹3,000 monthly pension after 60. If you or someone in your family works in the informal sector and meets the eligibility criteria, enrolling in PM-SYM is a practical step toward financial security in old age.
Visit your nearest Common Service Centre or check maandhan.in to get started today.