Agencies LUCKNOW, Apr 25: Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the top state in the country for the Atal Pension Yojana (APY), with 1.20 crore people having enrolled in the scheme so far. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state has not only made significant progress in development but has also set new records in social security and inclusive growth. The success of APY in Uttar Pradesh reflects the Yogi government's strong commitment to bringing Central welfare schemes to the grassroots level, ensuring financial security for the underprivileged sections of society. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, CM Yogi Adityanath launched an extensive awareness campaign to make Atal Pension Yojana (APY) accessible in every corner of the state. The scheme has been promoted not only in rural and urban areas but also through active involvement of banks and other stakeholders. As a result, Uttar Pradesh has recognized top-performing banks and stakeholders for their exceptional contributions to the scheme. In a special campaign organized by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), Uttar Pradesh secured the top spot with 21.49 lakh enrollments, surpassing the target of 15.83 lakh for the last financial year. For this outstanding performance, the Uttar Pradesh State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) was honored with the 'Award of Ultimate Leadership.' The Atal Pension Yojana is managed through 60 stakeholders, including 8 leading banks in India. State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, and Indian Bank have registered the highest enrollments for the scheme. Notably, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Bareilly, Fatehpur, and Kanpur Nagar have emerged as the top districts for APY enrollments. Thanks to CM Yogi Adityanath's leadership, the Atal Pension Yojana and similar initiatives have gained significant momentum, offering a crucial step toward ensuring financial security for the state's people in the future. This initiative is particularly beneficial for workers in the unorganized sector, who lack guaranteed income after retirement. Launched by the Government of India in 2015, the APY aims to provide a monthly pension ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 to Indian citizens in the unorganized sector, aged 18 to 40, after retirement. Contributions can be made on a monthly, quarterly, or half-yearly basis, with automatic deductions from the bank account. The contribution amount is lower when the scheme is started at a younger age. In case of the account holder's death, the pension is provided to their spouse, and after both pass away, the accumulated amount is returned to the nominee. Applications for this scheme can be made at banks, post offices, or online. |