Atal Pension Yojana: Will Budget 2026 Increase Pension Amidst Inflation Concerns?

• Subscribers of Atal Pension Yojana (APY) are hoping for an increase in minimum pension in Budget 2026 due to inflation.
• The government has repeatedly stated it has no current plans to increase APY pension amounts, citing increased financial burden on subscribers.
• APY, launched in May 2015, aims to provide social security with guaranteed monthly pensions from 1,000 to 5,000 rupees.
• As of November 30, 2025, over 8.4 crore people have joined APY, with the 1,000-rupee pension slab being the most popular.
• The scheme primarily targets poor, disadvantaged, and unorganized sector workers to provide old-age financial security.

Why It Matters: Subscribers seek higher APY pensions due to inflation, but the government currently has no plans to increase them.