Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship For Scheduled Caste Candidates 2026

This is a voluntary scheme by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to provide old-age security to Read More... small traders and self-employed individuals, offering a guaranteed monthly pension of ₹3,000 after age 60. Read less

Details

Are you a small trader or self-employed person looking for financial security in your old age? The Central Government has a scheme just for you!

What is the National Pension Scheme for Traders?

This is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme introduced by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Its main goal is to ensure financial protection and social security for small-scale traders and retailers once they retire. Eligible individuals can receive a minimum assured pension of ₹3,000 every month after they turn 60.

Who is this Scheme For?

This scheme is designed for 'Vyaparis' – individuals who are self-employed and work as shop owners, retail traders, rice mill owners, oil mill owners, workshop owners, commission agents, real estate brokers, owners of small hotels, restaurants, and similar businesses. Crucially, their annual business turnover should not exceed ₹1.5 crores.

Why is this Scheme Important?

This scheme is a significant step towards supporting the backbone of our economy – the unorganised sector workers. These individuals contribute about 50% of the nation's GDP. By providing a regular pension, the scheme helps them lead a dignified life after their working years, ensuring their financial needs are met.

Objective

This is a voluntary scheme by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to provide old-age security to small traders and self-employed individuals, offering a guaranteed monthly pension of ₹3,000 after age 60.

Benefits

DURATION OF FELLOWSHIPName of the Course: M.Phil.Maximum Duration: 2 years or submission of dissertation whichever is earlierAdmissibility of JRF: 2 years; Admissibility of SRF: NilName of the Course: M.Phil./Ph.D.Maximum Duration: 5 years from the commencement of fellowship or submission of Ph.D. thesis whichever is earlierAdmissibility of JRF: 2 years; Admissibility of SRF: Remaining 3 yearsName of the Course: Ph.D.Maximum Duration: 5 years or submission of Ph.D. thesis whichever is earlierAdmissibility of JRF: 2 years; Admissibility of SRF: Remaining 3 yearsAMOUNT OF FELLOWSHIPThe rate of fellowship for JRF and SRF will be at par with the UGC Fellowship as amended from time to time. Presently these rates are as follows -Fellowship (Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences)@Rs. 25,000/-p.m. initial two years for [email protected],000/- p.m. for remaining tenure for SRFContingency (Humanities & Social Sciences)@Rs.10,000/-p.a. for an initial two years (JRF)@Rs.20,500/-p.a. for remaining tenure (SRF)Contingency (Science, Engg. & Technology)@Rs.12,000/- p.a. initial two-year (JRF)@Rs.25,000/-p.a. for remaining tenure (SRF)Escorts/Reader Assistance (All Subjects)@Rs.2,000/- p.m. in case of physically handicapped & blind candidates.HRA As per Govt. of India norms (All Subjects)HOUSE RENT ALLOWANCE1. Suitable single-seated hostel accommodation may be provided to the candidates in the institutions. In such cases, the fellow is eligible to draw only hostel fees excluding mess, electricity, water charges, etc. A certificate to this effect is to be furnished through the Registrar/Director/Principal. HRA is not permissible for those candidates who are staying in Hostel accommodation.2. In case of non-availability of hostel accommodation, the fellow may be provided with single accommodation by the host institution. In such cases, the rent paid by the fellow on actual basis may be reimbursed subject to the ceiling of HRA as per Govt. of India norms.3. If the fellow makes her own arrangements of accommodation, he/she may be entitled to draw HRA as per the categorization of cities by the Govt. of India.Note:In all the above cases, the fellow will submit a relevant certificate (Annexure-VI) through the concerned University/College/Institute to the identified Agency for settling the claim.MEDICALNo separate /fixed medical assistance is provided. However, the fellow may avail of the medical facilities available in the University/Institution/College.LEAVEi. Leave for a maximum period of 30 days in a year in addition to the public holidays that may be taken by the candidate. However, they are not entitled to any other vacation, such as summer, winter, and pooja vacations.ii. Candidates are eligible for maternity/ paternity to leave at full rates of the fellowship as per Govt. of India rules once during the tenure of the award.iii. Academic Leave: The Fellow may be allowed academic leave (without fellowship and other emoluments) for a period not exceeding one year during the tenure of award for academic/teaching assignment /foreign visit in connection with research work.iv. The expenditure on travel cannot be claimed from UGC. The period of leave without fellowship will be counted towards the tenure.v. If the awardee wishes to apply for any other fellowship/paid assignment/examination conducted by a public body during the tenure of the fellowship, he/ she is not required to obtain NOC from UGC. In case of selection, the candidate would be required to tender their resignation from the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship.Note:All kinds of leave shall be approved by the University/Institute/College.

Sources and references

Guidelines

Who Can Apply? Check Your Eligibility

You must be a self-employed shop owner, retail owner, or a 'Vyapari'.
Your age must be between 18 and 40 years.
Your business's annual turnover should not be more than ₹1,50,00,000 (₹1.5 crore).
You should NOT be an income tax payer.
You should NOT be a member of NPS (Govt. funded), ESIC, EPFO, or Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan.

How to Apply for the Scheme

Visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC). You can find CSC locations at locator.csccloud.in/.
Get enrolled using your Aadhaar number and your savings bank account or Jan-Dhan account number.
The first subscription payment needs to be made in cash. You will receive a receipt from the CSC/VLE (Village Level Entrepreneur).
For subsequent payments, a monthly subscription will be automatically debited from your linked bank account on a fixed date each month.

Documents You'll Need

Aadhaar Card
Savings Bank Account or Jan-Dhan Account details: You'll need your IFSC code. You can provide a copy of your bank passbook, a cheque leaf, or a bank statement as proof of your account.

Important Note on Age Proof:

Your age as mentioned in your Aadhaar card will be used for enrollment. There's no need for separate age proof. However, remember that you cannot change your date of birth later.

FAQ’s

What is the monthly pension amount, and when will I start receiving it?

Under this scheme, you are guaranteed a minimum monthly pension of ₹3,000. This pension payment begins once you reach the age of 60.

If I stop contributing, can I still get my money back?

Yes, there are exit provisions. If you leave the scheme within 10 years of joining, you get back your own contribution with savings bank interest. If you exit after 10 years but before 60, you receive your contribution plus the accumulated interest (whichever is higher between actual fund interest and savings bank interest). In case of death of the beneficiary and spouse, the remaining amount goes back to the fund.

Does the scheme offer any benefit to the family if the beneficiary passes away?

Absolutely. If the beneficiary dies after starting to receive the pension, their spouse is eligible to receive 50% of the pension amount as a family pension. This benefit is exclusively for the spouse.

What if I become permanently disabled before age 60 and can't continue payments?

If you become permanently disabled before 60 and cannot continue contributions, your spouse can either take over the scheme by making regular payments or exit the scheme. Upon exiting, they will receive your total contributions along with the higher of the actual fund interest or the savings bank interest rate.

Is there any fee to enroll in this pension scheme?

No, there is no enrollment fee for beneficiaries. This is a Social Security Scheme from the Government of India, and the enrollment process is completely free for eligible individuals.

Can I re-join or revive the scheme if I miss a payment?

Yes, if you stop or delay your subscription payments, you can revive the scheme. You will need to pay the outstanding amounts along with a nominal interest, as decided by the Government.

Who manages this pension scheme, and who handles the pension payouts?

The scheme is jointly implemented by the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) and Common Service Centres (CSCs). LIC acts as the pension fund manager and is also responsible for processing and distributing the pension payouts.

Is it mandatory for my bank account to have funds for automatic deductions?

Yes, the monthly subscription is automatically debited from your linked savings account on a specific date each month. It's important to ensure sufficient funds are available in your account to avoid any issues with the auto-debit.

What's the process to sign up for this scheme?

To enroll, you can visit the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC). You’ll need your Aadhaar number and savings bank account/Jan-Dhan account details for self-certification. You can find CSC locations easily online.

Do I need to provide a separate document for my date of birth?

No, you don't need separate proof of age. Your date of birth as recorded in your Aadhaar card will be used for enrollment. Just make sure it's accurate, as changes won't be permitted later.