The Central Government’s Traders Pension Scheme is for small shopkeepers and self-employed people. It was launched on 12 September 2019 as the National Pension Scheme for Traders, Shopkeepers and Self-Employed Persons (NPS-Traders). Its purpose is to give a pension in old age to shopkeepers and small traders who have no regular pension. The scheme is run by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is its pension fund manager.
How it works
This is a voluntary contributory pension — you deposit a small amount every month and the government deposits the same amount. The contribution is ₹55 to ₹200 a month — the younger you join, the less you pay: joining at age 18 costs ₹55 a month and joining at age 40 costs ₹200 a month. The government matches your contribution every month. After you turn 60, you get a pension of ₹3,000 a month.
Who can join
The applicant’s age must be between 18 and 40 years. He or she must be a small shopkeeper, trader or self-employed person — such as a retail trader, rice mill owner, small trader or other self-employed worker. The annual turnover must not exceed ₹1.5 crore. The applicant must have an Aadhaar card and a bank account. Some other conditions and exclusions also apply — for example, those already covered by a government pension scheme or members of EPFO/ESIC may not be eligible. Check the full eligibility conditions on maandhan.in.
How to enrol
Enrolment can be done at the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) — carry your Aadhaar card, bank passbook and mobile number. Or you can do self-enrolment on maandhan.in. After enrolment, the monthly contribution is auto-debited from your bank account — you do not have to pay manually every month.
How it differs from the other pension schemes
The Central Government has three pension schemes for different groups — PM Kisan Maandhan is only for farmers, PM Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) is for unorganised workers, and the Traders Pension Scheme (NPS-Traders) is for shopkeepers, traders and self-employed people. All three pay a pension of ₹3,000 a month, but the eligibility and contributions are different — so check your own category before applying. Note that the name “PM Laghu Vyapari Maandhan” is now mainly historical — the scheme’s current official name is NPS-Traders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much pension does the Traders Pension Scheme give?
A: ₹3,000 a month after age 60 — the contribution is ₹55–₹200 a month (by age), and the government matches it.
Q2: Who can join?
A: Small shopkeepers, traders and self-employed people aged 18–40 with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore; check full conditions on maandhan.in.
Q3: Where do I enrol?
A: At the nearest CSC or by self-enrolment on maandhan.in.
Q4: Is this different from PM Kisan Maandhan?
A: Yes — PM Kisan Maandhan is for farmers, while this scheme is for shopkeepers and self-employed people.
Useful links
- maandhan.in (enrolment portal): https://maandhan.in/
- Traders Pension Scheme on MyScheme: https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/nps-tsep
- Next Action: see all 726 Central Government schemes — https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/kendra-sarkar-ki-yojnayen-2/
Leave a Reply