Under the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) pension scheme for senior citizens, the Government of India decided to extend the period during which the scheme would remain open for subscription up to which of the following timelines?

Introduction / Context:
Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) is a government supported pension scheme designed to provide a guaranteed pension to senior citizens. It is implemented through the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). At different times, the government has extended the availability period of this scheme. Many exam questions ask about the date up to which PMVVY was extended in a specific phase, especially around the time of its first major extension.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The scheme is PMVVY, targeted at senior citizens.
• The question asks about the deadline up to which the scheme was extended for subscription in a particular extension phase.
• The options list March 2019, March 2020, March 2021, March 2022, and March 2023.
• We focus on the widely reported government decision to extend PMVVY beyond its initial one year window.

Concept / Approach:
PMVVY was initially introduced for a limited period. Later, the Union Cabinet approved the extension of the scheme for a further period so that senior citizens could continue to subscribe. The key extension that appears frequently in exam questions is the extension of the last date for subscription up to 31 March 2020. Later policy changes extended or modified the scheme further, but the standard general knowledge question refers to this March 2020 deadline.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that after its initial launch, the government decided to keep PMVVY open for additional years.Step 2: The widely publicised extension in the early phase set the last date for subscription as 31 March 2020.Step 3: Among the options provided, March 2020 matches this date exactly.Step 4: March 2019 refers to an earlier end date strictly within the initial period and does not capture the extension.Step 5: Later dates such as March 2021, March 2022, and March 2023 relate to subsequent policy discussions and are not the standard answer for this specific extension question.Step 6: Therefore, the correct option for the timeline up to which PMVVY was initially extended is March, 2020.

Verification / Alternative check:
Government press releases and standard exam preparatory materials on social security schemes mention that PMVVY, launched in 2017, was extended up to 31 March 2020, with specific features such as a fixed pension rate and a ceiling on the amount that a senior citizen could invest. This date is repeatedly highlighted as the extended last date for entry during that phase of the scheme. Although later budgets introduced further changes, questions framed with the given options generally expect March 2020 as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
March, 2019: This does not reflect the extension; it would have already passed when the extension decision was announced.

March, 2021 / March, 2022 / March, 2023: These dates go beyond the initial extension phase that was widely reported and used in many exam questions. While later policy changes may have further modified timelines, the standard answer for the first extension is March 2020.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse different phases of extension for PMVVY and select later dates that they have seen in newer policy documents. It is important to match the date with the specific context of the question. When an exam question about PMVVY mentions the early extension decision, the expected answer is usually March 2020. Paying attention to the time frame and wording helps in avoiding such confusion.

Final Answer:
Under the extension referred to in this question, PMVVY remained open for subscription up to March, 2020.