As of today, more than 8.66 crore subscribers are already enrolled in this social security framework.

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1. Key Changes & Extension Goals

The extension isn’t just about the timeline; it includes critical financial and developmental support:

• Promotional Funding: Continued support for awareness campaigns and capacity building to reach workers in the remotest areas.

• Gap Funding: The government will continue to provide “viability gap funding.” This means if the actual returns on the pension corpus are lower than the guaranteed rate, the Central Government will bridge the shortfall to ensure pensioners get their full amount.

• Viksit Bharat @2047: The extension is positioned as a pillar of the mission to make India a developed nation, focusing on long-term social security and financial inclusion.

2. APY Benefits & Survivor Rights

The APY provides a “Triple Benefit” structure that ensures financial dignity for the subscriber, their spouse, and their children.

• Guaranteed Pension: A fixed monthly amount of ₹1,000, ₹2,000, ₹3,000, ₹4,000, or ₹5,000 starts at age 60.

• Spousal Security: In the event of the subscriber’s death, the spouse continues to receive the exact same pension amount for life.

• Nominee Corpus: After the death of both the subscriber and the spouse, the entire accumulated corpus (up to ₹8.5 Lakh for the ₹5,000 slab) is returned to the nominee.

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3. Eligibility & Enrollment Rules (2026)

The eligibility criteria remain strict to ensure the benefits reach the intended demographic:

• Age Bracket: 18 to 40 years.

• Non-Taxpayer Rule: Since October 1, 2022, Income Taxpayers are ineligible to join. If a subscriber is found to have paid taxes, the account will be closed and the accumulated wealth returned.

• Aadhaar Mandatory: For proper identification and to prevent multiple accounts, Aadhaar is now a primary requirement for enrollment and authentication.

4. Contribution Snapshot: How to Get ₹5,000 Monthly

The earlier you join, the lower your monthly burden. Here is what you need to contribute for the maximum pension of ₹5,000/month:

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The post Atal Pension Yojana Extended to 2031: Securing India’s Retirement Future first appeared on Rightsofemployees.com.

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This development follows significant nationwide “switch-off” strikes by gig workers on Christmas and New Year’s Eve 2025, protesting for better pay and social safety nets.

1. The “90-Day” Eligibility Rule

The draft rules aim to distinguish between casual users and active gig workers to determine who qualifies for government-mandated benefits.

2. Key Benefits & Protections

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Eligible workers (aged 16 to 60) will be brought under a formal welfare umbrella, funded by a 1-2% levy on aggregator turnover.

• Healthcare: Coverage under the Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) scheme, providing up to ₹5 lakh in annual health cover.

• Insurance: Mandatory life and personal accident insurance.

• Pension: Future eligibility for pension schemes based on joint contributions from the platform and the worker.

• Identity: Issuance of a Digital Identity Card and a Universal Account Number (UAN) through the e-Shram portal.

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3. National Social Security Board

A new central body will be formed to oversee the welfare of the estimated 1.3 crore gig workers in India (projected to grow to 2.35 crore by 2030).

• Composition: The board will include five representatives each from gig worker associations and aggregator employers.

• Responsibilities: Identifying new aggregator types, assessing worker numbers, and formulating specific welfare policies.

Impact on Platforms (Aggregators)

Companies like Zomato, Swiggy, Uber, and Zepto will now have to:

1. Mandatory Registration: Share data of all active partners on a central government portal.

2. Contribution: Pay into the Social Security Fund (capped at 5% of the amount payable to workers).

3. Compliance: Ensure Aadhaar-linked registration for all workers onboarded.

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The post Gig Workers’ Social Security: Govt Proposes 90-Day Work Rule first appeared on Rightsofemployees.com.