Which of the following statements is NOT correct for the National Pension Scheme for Retail Traders/Shopkeepers and Self-employed persons?
- (a)Those who are in the age group of 18 to 40 years are eligible.
- (b)Their annual turnover should not exceed 1.5 crore rupees.
- (c)National Pension Scheme's members are also eligible.
- (d)It has a monthly minimum assured pension of Rs. 3000.00.
Correct — C. Statement (c) is the one that is NOT correct. Under the National Pension Scheme for Retail Traders and Self-employed persons (PM Laghu Vyapari Maandhan Yojana, launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Labour & Employment), a person who is already a member of the National Pension System (NPS), or covered under EPFO or ESIC, or who is an income-tax payer, is specifically EXCLUDED. So an NPS member is NOT eligible — making statement (c) false, which is exactly what the 'NOT correct' question asks for. The other three statements are genuine features of the scheme.
- (a)Those who are in the age group of 18 to 40 years are eligible. — This is a correct feature of the scheme (entry age 18–40 years), so it is not the 'NOT correct' statement the question wants.
- (b)Their annual turnover should not exceed 1.5 crore rupees. — Correct — eligibility requires an annual turnover below Rs 1.5 crore; so this statement is true and hence not the answer.
- (d)It has a monthly minimum assured pension of Rs. 3000.00. — Correct — the scheme assures a minimum pension of Rs 3,000 per month after the beneficiary turns 60; a true statement, so not the answer.
The National Pension Scheme for Retail Traders/Shopkeepers & Self-employed (PM Laghu Vyapari Maandhan Yojana, 2019) is a voluntary, contributory pension scheme for small traders. It offers a minimum assured pension of Rs 3,000 a month after age 60, funded 50:50 by the beneficiary and the Government. Eligibility is capped by age (18–40) and business size (annual turnover under Rs 1.5 crore), and it deliberately excludes those already in NPS, EPFO or ESIC, or who pay income tax — because it targets the un-covered informal sector.
This is a 'find the false statement' item. Three statements state real eligibility/benefit features (age 18–40, turnover < Rs 1.5 crore, Rs 3,000 pension). The catch is (c): schemes like this avoid double-benefit, so existing NPS/EPFO/ESIC members are barred, not welcomed. Recognising the 'no overlap' design of informal-sector schemes flags (c) as the incorrect claim.
- PM Laghu Vyapari Maandhan Yojana launched 2019 (Ministry of Labour & Employment).
- Eligible age: 18–40 years; annual turnover must be below Rs 1.5 crore.
- Minimum assured pension: Rs 3,000 per month after age 60; 50% family pension to spouse.
- NOT eligible: members of NPS, EPFO or ESIC, and income-tax payers.
- Assuming an NPS member can also join this scheme — they are excluded (no double coverage).
- Mixing up PM Laghu Vyapari Maandhan (traders) with PM-SYM (unorganised workers) — near-identical terms (18–40, Rs 3,000 pension).
UPSC/UPPSC test the eligibility, exclusions and benefit amounts of Maandhan-type contributory pension schemes; the 'who is excluded' angle is a favourite trap.
With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) Yojana, consider the following statements: 1. The entry age group for enrolment in the scheme is 21 to 40 years. 2. Age specific contribution shall be made by the beneficiary. 3. Each subscriber under the scheme shall receive a minimum pension of Rs 3,000 per month after attaining the age of 60 years. 4. Family pension is applicable to the spouse and unmarried daughters. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1, 3 and 4
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 2 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 4
Answer(b) 2 and 3 only — PM-SYM's entry age is 18–40 (so '21–40' is wrong); age-specific contribution and the Rs 3,000/month pension after 60 are correct; family pension is to the spouse only.
Same concept — a Maan-dhan contributory pension scheme for the informal sector. PM-SYM (workers) is the sister scheme of the PM Laghu Vyapari Maandhan (traders) in this UPPSC item; both share the 18–40 entry age and Rs 3,000 minimum pension.
Who among the following can join the National Pension System (NPS)?
- (a) Resident Indian citizens only
- (b) Persons of age from 21 to 55 only
- (c) All State Government employees joining the services after the date of notification by the respective State Governments
- (d) All Central Government employees including those of Armed Forces joining the services on or after 1st April, 2004
Answer(c) All State Government employees joining the services after the date of notification by the respective State Governments.
Related concept — NPS membership. The UPPSC item's false statement hinges on NPS members being ineligible for the traders' scheme; this UPSC item tests who can join the NPS itself.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Under the PM Laghu Vyapari Maandhan Yojana, the minimum assured monthly pension after age 60 is:
- (a)Rs 1,000
- (b)Rs 2,000
- (c)Rs 3,000
- (d)Rs 5,000
Answer(c) Rs 3,000 — a minimum assured pension of Rs 3,000 per month after the beneficiary attains 60 years.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which of the following persons is NOT eligible to enrol under the National Pension Scheme for Retail Traders?
- (a)A shopkeeper aged 30 with turnover of Rs 40 lakh
- (b)A self-employed trader aged 38 not covered by any social security
- (c)A trader who is already a member of EPFO/NPS
- (d)A small retailer aged 25 with turnover under Rs 1.5 crore
Answer(c) A trader already a member of EPFO/NPS — those covered under NPS/EPFO/ESIC (or income-tax payers) are excluded.