- Why in news
- On 3 August 2026, the Labour Ministry told Lok Sabha that over 54 lakh workers had enrolled in PM-SYM as of 29 July 2026, and listed steps to improve retention.
- What it is
- PM-SYM is a voluntary, contributory pension scheme for unorganised workers, launched in February 2019. It gives an assured monthly pension after age 60. The worker and the Central Government each pay half of the monthly contribution.
- Pension
- Assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after age 60.
- Eligibility
- Age 18 to 40, monthly income up to Rs 15,000, and not a member of EPFO/ESIC/NPS or an income tax assessee.
- Enrolment
- Through Common Service Centres (about 4 lakh) or self-enrolment on the maandhan.in portal.
- Revival period
- Revival period for dormant accounts was extended from one year to three years.
- Women's share
- Women make up 53.1% of enrolled workers.
Don’t confuse with PM-SYM vs PM-KMY: PM-SYM covers unorganised workers aged 18-40 with income up to Rs 15,000. PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana is a similar pension scheme for small and marginal farmers.
Don’t confuse with PM-SYM vs Atal Pension Yojana: APY is run by PFRDA for all citizens aged 18-40 with a bank account. PM-SYM is for unorganised workers with Central matching contribution.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Gives old-age income security to unorganised workers who have no formal pension cover.
- Women are 53.1% of enrolled workers.
Problems
- Accounts go dormant through missed contributions, bank balance issues, account changes and low awareness.
- Pensions begin only from 2039, so benefits are distant and the scheme's effect cannot yet be judged.
Way forward
- Strengthen auto-debit, awareness and revival features to keep accounts active.
- Integrate the scheme further with the eShram portal to reach more workers.
Put in your answer
Retention measures: Revival period extended to three years and two-way integration with eShram.
Government contribution: Centre's matching contribution is Rs 2,011.01 crore.
- 2024Prelims Q100Which PM-SYM statements are correct: entry age, contributions, minimum pension, family pension
- 2016Prelims Q76Which statements on Atal Pension Yojana (unorganised workers' pension) are correct
- 2017Prelims Q29Who is eligible to join the National Pension System
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements about the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) scheme: 1. It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for unorganised workers. 2. It assures a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after the age of 60. 3. Unorganised workers aged 18 to 50 years are eligible to join it. 4. The Central Government pays the entire monthly contribution of the beneficiary. 5. Enrolment can be done only through Common Service Centres. How many of the above statements are correct?
How many of the above statements are correct?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.PM-SYM is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for unorganised workers.
True. It is voluntary and contributory.
2.The scheme assures a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after the age of 60.
True. Rs 3,000 per month after 60.
3.A worker who is a member of EPFO, ESIC or NPS (contributed by the Centre) is not eligible to join the scheme.
True. Members of these schemes are excluded.
4.The Central Government pays the entire monthly contribution of the beneficiary under the scheme.
False. The Centre pays only a matching 50%; the beneficiary pays the other 50%.
5.The scheme was launched in February 2019 and is administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
True. Launched February 2019; Labour Ministry runs it.
6.Enrolment under the scheme can be done only through Common Service Centres.
False. Workers can also self-enrol on the maandhan.in portal.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.