National Pension Scheme (NPS)

NPS full form stands for National Pension Scheme. NPS is an initiative undertaken by the Government of India with the aim of providing retirement benefits to all the citizens of India. NPS seeks to inculcate the habit of saving for retirement amongst the citizens. 

Here, we will cover the objectives of NPS, types of NPS accounts, interest rates and benefits. Before that, let us first understand the National Pension Scheme in brief.

What is National Pension Scheme

Regulated and administered by the PFRDA or Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority under the PFRDA Act 2013, NPS is a defined, voluntary contribution scheme that is market-linked and managed by professional fund managers.

Under NPS, individual savings are pooled into a pension fund which is invested by PFRDA-regulated professional fund managers into diversified portfolios comprising Government Bonds, Bills, Corporate Debentures, and Shares.

Contributions made by individual subscribers to the National Pensions Scheme under the system are accumulated until retirement, and corpus growth continues via market-linked returns. Subscribers also have the option to exit this plan before retirement or opt for superannuation. However, this scheme ensures that a part of savings is utilized to provide a subscriber with retirement benefits.

Thus, on retirement, exit or superannuation, at least 40% of the contribution is utilized for the procurement of a lifetime pension via the purchase of an annuity. The remaining funds are paid to the subscriber in a lump sum.

Objectives of National Pension System

Now that you know what is NPS scheme, let's understand its objectives-

  • A substantial corpus creation for one’s retirement phase is an essential aspect to take care of during financial planning.

  • It not only allows individuals to fulfil their expenditure requirements but also allows them to sail through their post-retirement life with the least hassles.

  • To address this concern of the growing senior citizen demography in the country, the Indian Government thus introduced schemes like the National Pension System or NPS.

  • The scheme allows for systemised savings during one’s working years, thus inculcating a financial discipline among individuals to save for the future.

Features of National Pension Scheme 

Following are the key features of National Pension Scheme-

  • Liquidity and Flexibility via Two Different Account Types

The National Pension System allows individuals to make systematic investments via either of the following two accounts.

NPS account opening is followed by the generation of a unique Permanent Retirement Account Number or PRAN issued to each subscriber. Fund management, including contribution to this scheme, is done via PRAN.

  • Tier-I account: It functions as a pension account, and withdrawals from it are subject to specific restrictions. An individual can open this account with a minimum deposit of Rs. 500.
  • Tier-II account: They are voluntary accounts providing liquidity of funds via investments and withdrawals.

    The minimum deposit one needs to make for a Tier II account is Rs. 250. However, investments in Tier-II accounts are allowed only when an active Tier I account in the subscriber’s name exists.

Thus, as per the National Pension System architecture, individuals can subscribe to the National Pensions Scheme with PFRDA-appointed intermediaries via the two accounts mentioned above.

These intermediaries can include – 

  • Trustee banks
  • Custodians
  • CRA or Central Recordkeeping Agency
  • NPS trust
  • PoP or Points of Presence
  • Annuity Service Providers.
  • Flexibility of Investment via Two Different Options

Subscribers can opt for either of the following two investment options, thus providing the flexibility of choice.

  • Auto Choice

It is available as a default option for subscribers as per the system. Fund investments under this option are managed automatically by an appointed fund manager as per an investor’s age profile.

  • Active Choice

Under this option, individuals are free to decide among available asset classes in which to invest their funds. Also, they can allocate different percentages of contributed funds to be invested in with a maximum cap of 50% for Asset Class E or Equities. Other Asset Classes include Class C, i.e., Corporate Debt Securities and Class G or Government Securities.

Alongside, subscribers also have an option to switch their investment options as well as change their fund manager. These options are, however, subject to certain constraints.

  • Option to Make a Partial Withdrawal

Another of NPS scheme benefits includes an option to withdraw their contributions partially. It gives individuals partial accessibility to their funds saved over the years, thus allowing them to meet financial needs before retirement during emergencies.

As per the rules regarding partial withdrawal, a subscriber can make withdrawals of their Tier I scheme contribution up to a maximum NPS Contribution limit of 25%.

Withdrawals are, however, subject to the following clauses.

  • Contributions up to a minimum of 10 years must be made for the partial withdrawal facility to apply.
  • Also, there should be a minimum gap of 5 years between two consecutive withdrawals.

Eligibility Criteria for National Pension Scheme 

An individual’s eligibility for the National Pension System depends on the various NPS models in operation. These are – 

  • Government Sector National Pension System Model

The pension system is applicable for government employees, both central and state, except for those employed with the armed forces.

Under this model, a contribution of 10% of a government employee’s salary goes to the National Pension System with an equal contribution by the government. Central Government employees receive a contribution of 14% from the government. 

Also, all states in the country have implemented the NPS National Pension System, excluding the Government of West Bengal.

  • The Corporate Model of the National Pension System

As per the corporate model, corporate employees enrolled by their employers can utilize the NPS benefits of the pension system. To do so, they must be Indian citizens between the age of 18 and 60 years, fulfilling the KYC requirements.

The model is applicable for entities as under.

  • Registered as per the Companies Act.
  • Registered under different Co-Operative Acts.
  • Identified as Central or Public Sector Enterprises.
  • Identified as a proprietary concern.
  • Registered as partnership firms or LLPs.
  • Incorporated vide order from a State or Central Government.
  • Identified as a society or a trust.
  • All Citizens Model of NPS

All citizens of India meeting the following eligibility criteria can voluntarily opt for enrolment and contribute to the NPS pension scheme towards their retirement security.

  • He/she should be between 18 and 60 years of age on the date when applying with a PoP service provider.
  • He/she should fulfil the KYC requirements as required in the Subscriber Registration Form and submit all necessary documents.

Types of NPS Accounts

Tier I and Tier II are the two primary account types under the NPS. The first is the default account, while the second is an optional addition. The table below provides a detailed explanation of the two account kinds.

Particulars

NPS Tier – 1 Account

NPS Tier – 2 Account

Status

Default

Voluntary

Withdrawal

Not Permitted

Permitted 

Tax Exemption

Until Rs.2 lakhs per annum

From Rs 1.5 lakh for government employees and none for others

Minimum Contribution

From ₹500 or ₹1000 per annum

₹250

Maximum Contribution

No Limit

No limit

Returns of National Pension Scheme

The interest rate on NPS is determined by the performance of the assets. As a result, the amount of return received upon retirement cannot be predicted in advance.

NPS is a market-linked product that allows you to invest in a variety of assets, such as stock, government debt, corporate debt, and alternative assets.

Once the asset mix and fund manager are determined, the money is invested in specific schemes that invest in these four asset classes.

  • Best Performing NPS Tier-I and Tier-II Returns 2024 – Scheme G (as of 15th Dec 2023)

SCHEME - G Tier-I
Pension Fund Returns
1 Year
Returns
5 Years
Returns
10 Years
Aditya Birla Sun Life Pension Management Ltd. 8.40% 8.00% NA
Axis Pension Fund Management Limited 7.63% NA NA
HDFC Pension Management Co. Ltd. 8.03% 7.91% 9.37%
ICICI Pru. Pension Fund Mgmt Co. Ltd. 8.13% 7.71% 9.38%
Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund Ltd. 8.36% 7.90% 9.42%
LIC Pension Fund Ltd. 8.05% 8.17% 10.01%
Max Life Pension Fund Management Limited 8.11% NA NA
SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd 8.32% 7.77% 9.45%
Tata Pension Management Pvt. Ltd. 8.01% NA NA
UTI Retirement Solutions Ltd. 8.30% 7.74% 9.15%
DSP Pension Fund Managers Private Limited NA NA NA
Benchmark Return as on 29.12.2023 8.10% 7.42% 8.83%

 

SCHEME - G Tier-II
Pension Fund Returns
1 Year
Returns
5 Years
Returns
10 Years
Aditya Birla Sun Life Pension Management Ltd. 8.26% 7.90% NA
Axis Pension Fund Management Limited 7.27% NA NA
HDFC Pension Management Co. Ltd. 8.10% 7.73% 9.16%
ICICI Pru. Pension Fund Mgmt Co. Ltd. 8.07% 7.73% 9.37%
Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund Ltd. 8.25% 7.70% 9.27%
LIC Pension Fund Ltd. 8.21% 8.37% 10.01%
Max Life Pension Fund Management Limited 7.31% NA NA
SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd 8.38% 7.67% 9.38%
Tata Pension Management Pvt. Ltd. 8.18% NA NA
UTI Retirement Solutions Ltd. 8.14% 7.67% 9.22%
DSP Pension Fund Managers Private Limited NA NA NA
Benchmark Return as on 29.12.2023 8.10% 7.42% 8.83%
  • Best Performing NPS Tier-I and Tier-II Returns 2024 – Scheme C (as of 15th Dec 2023)

SCHEME - C Tier-I
Pension Fund Returns
1 Year
Returns
5 Years
Returns
10 Years
Aditya Birla Sun Life Pension Management Ltd. 7.43% 8.28% NA
Axis Pension Fund Management Limited 7.51% NA NA
HDFC Pension Management Co. Ltd. 7.49% 8.52% 9.22%
ICICI Pru. Pension Fund Mgmt Co. Ltd. 7.50% 8.02% 9.16%
Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund Ltd. 7.37% 7.52% 8.69%
LIC Pension Fund Ltd. 7.05% 8.12% 8.92%
Max Life Pension Fund Management Limited 7.13% NA NA
SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd 7.28% 8.08% 9.01%
Tata Pension Management Pvt. Ltd. 6.87% NA NA
UTI Retirement Solutions Ltd. 7.45% 7.74% 8.70%
DSP Pension Fund Managers Private Limited NA NA NA
Benchmark Return as on 29.12.2023 7.27% 8.62% 9.35%

 

SCHEME - C Tier-II
Pension Fund Returns
1 Year
Returns
5 Years
Returns
10 Years
Aditya Birla Sun Life Pension Management Ltd. 7.24% 8.10% NA
Axis Pension Fund Management Limited 6.08% NA NA
HDFC Pension Management Co. Ltd. 7.49% 8.29% 8.51%
ICICI Pru. Pension Fund Mgmt Co. Ltd. 7.42% 7.92% 9.06%
Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund Ltd. 7.23% 7.73% 8.72%
LIC Pension Fund Ltd. 7.10% 8.44% 8.62%
Max Life Pension Fund Management Limited 6.87% NA NA
SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd 7.08% 7.60% 8.71%
Tata Pension Management Pvt. Ltd. 6.89% NA NA
UTI Retirement Solutions Ltd. 7.27% 7.71% 8.69%
DSP Pension Fund Managers Private Limited NA NA NA
Benchmark Return as on 29.12.2023 7.27% 8.62% 9.35%
  • Best Performing NPS Tier-I Returns 2024 – Scheme A (as of 15th Dec 2023)

SCHEME -A Tier-I
Pension Fund Returns
1 Year
Returns
5 Years
Returns
10 Years
Aditya Birla Sun Life Pension Management Ltd. 4.36% 5.73% NA
Axis Pension Fund Management Limited 6.85% NA NA
HDFC Pension Management Co. Ltd. 6.00% 8.54% NA
ICICI Pru. Pension Fund Mgmt Co. Ltd. 2.69% 6.21% NA
Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund Ltd. 3.87% 6.70% NA
LIC Pension Fund Ltd. 4.40% 7.34% NA
Max Life Pension Fund Management Limited 6.75% NA NA
SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd 4.99% 8.76% NA
Tata Pension Management Pvt. Ltd. 7.77% NA NA
UTI Retirement Solutions Ltd. 1.60% 5.16% NA
DSP Pension Fund Managers Private Limited NA NA NA

How to Apply for NPS Account

Here's how to open a National Pension Scheme online and offline-

  • How to Open NPS Account Online

Individuals can register and obtain a subscription to the National Pension System through the online platform eNPS. Registration for the scheme can be done in the following steps-

Step 1 – Go to the eNPS portal available at the official website of the National Pension System.

Step 2 – Choose your subscriber type from the available options ‘Individual Subscriber’ and ‘Corporate Subscriber’.

Step 3 – Choose your suitable residential status. The options include ‘Citizen of India’ and ‘NRI’.

Step 4 – Opt for either Tier I account type or both accounts, as a choice of the former is mandatory for long-term savings.

Step 5 – Enter your PAN details and select a suitable bank or PoP. It is ideal to choose a PoP with whom you have an existing relationship, such as a savings/current/Demat/account for KYC verification, as the chosen PoP will do it.

Step 6 – Upload the scanned copy of your PAN card along with a cancelled cheque. The image format should be in .jpg, .jpeg or .png format with a file size of 4KB to 2MB.

Step 7 – Next, upload your scanned photograph and signature in the same format and size as above.

Step 8 – Once routed to the payment gateway, proceed to pay the required charges via Net Banking.

Step 9 – With the completion of payment, your Permanent Retirement Account Number will be generated.

  • How to Apply for NPS Account Offline

To open an NPS account offline or manually, you must first locate a PoP – Point of Presence (which might be a bank). Collect a subscriber form from your nearest PoP and turn it in with your KYC documents. If you are already KYC-compliant with that bank, disregard it.

The PoP will issue you a PRAN – Permanent Retirement Account Number – once you make the initial contribution (not less than Rs.500, Rs.250 monthly, or Rs.1,000 annually).

This number, along with the password in your sealed welcome kit, will assist you in operating your account. This method requires a one-time registration cost of Rs.125.

How to Log In to the NPS Account

After your NPS account is created and PRAN is allocated, log in to your E- NPS account through various mediums, such as via the NSDL NPS portal, the KFintech portal or net banking account.

Let us understand the process to log in to your PRAN account-

  • Through NSDL NPS Portal

If you are logging in for the first time, you will have to create a new password using the following steps-

  • Open the official portal of NSDL NPS at https://enps.nsdl.com/eNPS/NationalPensionSystem.html
  • Click on ‘Login with PRAN/IPIN’. 
  • The log-in screen will be displayed.
  • Click on ‘Reset Password’ to generate a new password.
  • On this screen, you will have to provide your PRAN, date of birth, and new password. Confirm the password and then the CAPTCHA. Finally, click on Submit.
  • You will get an OTP on your registered mobile number. Enter OTP on the screen to confirm your new password. Now, you will be able to log in to your E-NPS account using your PRAN and new password.
  • Through KFintech NPS Portal

  • Visit the KFintech NPS official portal at https://nps.kfintech.com/.
  • Click on ‘Login’ and then click on ‘Existing Subscriber’.
  • On the login screen, enter your PRAN, password and Captcha code to log in.

If you are logging in for the first time, follow the steps mentioned below-

  • Visit the KFintech NPS official portal at https://nps.kfintech.com/.
  • Click on ‘Login’ and select ‘Existing Subscriber’.
  • On the login screen, click on ‘Generate/Reset password’.
  • Next, enter your PRAN, date of birth and Captcha code. Click on ‘Submit’. You will receive an OTP on your registered phone number. Enter the OTP and then set a new password. Once you create a new password, you can use it to log in to your E-NPS account.

Tax Benefits on National Pension Scheme

Tax benefits for National Pension Scheme investments are available under the following sections.

Applicable Sections under the Income Tax Act 1961

Tax Benefits Allowed

U/S 80CCD (1)

Own contribution of a subscriber towards Tier I investments tax-deductible within the total ceiling of Rs.1.5 lakh u/s 80C.

U/S 80CCD 1(B)

In addition to deductions under section 80CCD (1), subscribers are allowed up to Rs.50,000 as deductions towards Tier I contributions.

U/S 80CCD (2)

Contribution of an employer towards Tier I investments is eligible for deduction up to 14% for central government contributions and up to 10% for others. This deduction is over and above the deduction limit applicable u/s 80C.

The National Pension Scheme Details has other tax benefits on NPS Tier I investments including – 

  • Up to 25% of Tier I contributions withdrawn by a subscriber are exempt from tax.
  • Annuity purchase from the National Pension Scheme corpus is tax-exempt. However, income generated from such an annuity in the following years is taxable.
  • Lump-sum withdrawal of up to 40% of an NPS corpus after a subscriber turns 60 is exempt from tax.

Thus, after 60 years of age, if the total corpus created through the National Pension System amounts to Rs. 20 Lakh, a lump sum withdrawal of 40%, i.e., Rs.8 lakh, will not attract any tax.

Further, if you utilize the remaining 60% of funds for annuity purchases, the entire corpus will be tax-free. Only the income generated from the annuity will be taxable.

NPS Customer Care Number

  • NPS SMS Number: Send NPS to 56677
  • NPS Call Centre Number: Simply dial 1800 110 708
  • NPS Toll-Free Number For Registered Subscriber (with PRAN): Simply dial 1800 222 080
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