The Ministry of Labour and Employment has announced a nationwide Special Registration Campaign for the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) and National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self-Employed Persons (NPS Traders), aimed at expanding pension coverage among unorganised workers and small traders across the country.
According to the ministry, the campaign will be conducted in two phases. Phase I will cover urban areas from January 15 to February 15, 2026, while Phase II will focus on rural areas from February 16 to March 15, 2026. The drive is intended to facilitate enrolment of eligible beneficiaries who are currently outside formal social security frameworks.
All eligible unorganised workers, small traders, shopkeepers and self-employed individuals have been urged to register under the schemes through their nearest Common Services Centres (CSCs) to avail pension benefits. The ministry has appealed to potential beneficiaries to complete enrolment within the stipulated timeline to ensure coverage under the schemes.
Under the eligibility criteria for PM-SYM, unorganised workers must have a monthly income of up to ₹15,000, fall within the age group of 18 to 40 years, and should not be covered under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation or the National Pension System. Income tax payers are not eligible for enrolment under the scheme.
For the NPS Traders scheme, small traders and shopkeepers between the ages of 18 and 40 years with an annual turnover not exceeding ₹1.5 crore are eligible, provided they are not income tax payers.
Both schemes offer a voluntary and contributory pension framework. Enrolled beneficiaries are entitled to a minimum assured pension of ₹3,000 per month upon attaining the age of 60 years. In the event of the subscriber’s death, 50 per cent of the pension amount is payable as a family pension to the spouse. The Central Government provides a matching contribution to the subscriber’s monthly contribution, strengthening the financial sustainability of the scheme.
Eligible individuals can enroll by visiting the nearest CSC with their Aadhaar card and a savings or Jan-Dhan bank account. The first contribution is required to be paid in cash at the time of registration, after which monthly contributions will be auto-debited from the linked bank account.
The Labour Department in Sri Vijaya Puram has also extended support to those facing difficulties in registration. Unorganised workers, traders and self-employed persons who are unable to enroll independently or through CSCs may visit the Labour Department office on any working day for assistance.
For further clarification or registration-related support, individuals may contact the Labour Department at phone number 03192-230157 or mobile number 8900901130. The ministry stated that the campaign is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen social security coverage for workers in the informal sector through structured pension support.
