The government has changed the subscriber registration form for the Atal Pension Yojana (APY). From October 1, only the revised APY form is being accepted for new registrations, according to an Office Memorandum shared by the Department of Posts.
The change aligns with the latest guidelines from the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and aims to streamline the onboarding process under the social security scheme.
The earlier registration format has been discontinued after September 30, 2025, and is no longer accepted by Protean (formerly NSDL), the Central Recordkeeping Agency.
What is Atal Pension Yojana (APY)?
APY is a pension scheme, focused on the unorganised sector workers in the country. Under the APY, a guaranteed minimum pension of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 per month will be paid once the subscriber reaches the age of 60. The pension amount depends on contributions by subscribers. Any person who is a citizen of India can join the APY scheme.
Eligibility criteria for APY
To be eligible for the APY, an applicant must be an Indian citizen between 18 and 40 years of age, have a savings bank or post office account, and not be an income-tax payer as of October 1, 2022, or later.
The prospective applicant may provide Aadhaar and mobile number to the bank during registration to facilitate receipt of periodic updates on the APY account.
New APY form features
The new form includes a mandatory FATCA/CRS declaration, which helps identify applicants with foreign citizenship or tax residency. Only resident Indian citizens can open APY accounts through post offices, as these accounts are linked with postal savings accounts.
All post offices have been directed to display the revised guidelines for public awareness and ensure that only the updated forms are used for new APY enrolments.
All requirements as required by NSDL-Protean have been incorporated at the SRF report level in the system, the order said.
“In view of the above, it is ensured that the new APY Subscriber Registration Form to be used w.e.f 01.10.2025 for on-boarding of new subscribers under APY. No unauthorised or generic forms are to be used for APY-related activities,” the postal department said.
The Department of Posts also stated that it is requested to circulate it to all concerned for information, guidance and necessary action. This may also be placed on the notice board of all post offices in public areas.
