NPS

Greater flexibility in retirement withdrawals and restoration of tax incentives under the new tax regime can significantly accelerate growth in the National Pension System (NPS), according to a senior industry executive. "One major issue is the compulsory 20 per cent annuity requirement. We have suggested PFRDA that with the new Retirement Income System (RIS) for de-accumulation, customers should be allowed to choose between annuity and RIS. If this flexibility is introduced, it would help significantly," Sumit Shukla, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Axis Pension Fund told PTI. At present, a portion of the NPS corpus is mandatorily used to purchase annuity products at the time of retirement, though the regulator has recently introduced the Retirement Income System (RIS) framework aimed at offering more flexibility in post-retirement income planning. Shukla also pitched for restoring the additional Rs 50,000 tax deduction for NPS contributions under the new tax regim

Step up savings rate, build equity-heavy portfolio, and automate investments

Mutual Funds vs NPS: The Inheritance Tax Difference Few Investors Understand

The pension fund manager expects onboarding through BHIM, Google Pay and PhonePe, along with new products, to drive subscriber growth in FY27

Under the new framework, subscribers will be able to withdraw a designated portion of their pension corpus in phases through different drawdown options during the decumulation phase.

PFRDA's proposed NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme seeks to combine retirement savings with healthcare financing, potentially reshaping elderly-care funding beyond traditional insurance models

By creating distinct frameworks for government and private-sector employers, regulator aims to streamline the National Pension System

By combining full equity exposure with data-driven engagement, the regulator aims to transform NPS Vatsalya into a high-growth, customised investment vehicle

Regulator plans gradual shift towards 25% equity in government composite scheme and new asset classes, including AIFs, to support long-term returns

With India's senior population rising, industry executives want wider NPS tax benefits and simpler pension rules in Budget 2026

The scheme may not suit investors who want liquidity, are targeting short- to medium-term goals, or are uncomfortable with equity volatility

The move assumes significance, given that it will benefit about 46,322 employees, 23,570 pensioners, and 23,260 family pensioners

Pension funds regulator relaxes withdrawal and exit norms, allowing parents to access funds for education and medical needs while maintaining long-term savings

A shift towards predictable pensions, where subscribers may target a fixed monthly income, experts say

Pension regulator overhauling National Pension System to introduce assured payouts and flexible withdrawal norms, aiming to bridge the gap between long-term savings and immediate liquidity needs

More bank-led pension funds mean wider access, sharper competition, and better NPS experiences for long-term savers, say experts

PFRDA has approved a framework allowing scheduled banks to sponsor pension funds for NPS assets, alongside appointing new trustees and revising investment management fee norms

Housing-related needs accounted for the highest number of partial withdrawal requests under the National Pension System in FY25, with Rs 1,327.91 crore withdrawn, PFRDA data show

Systematic Unit Redemption offers market-linked returns and deferred tax payment, but does not guarantee pension for lifetime

Revised norms boost retirement liquidity by slashing mandatory annuity requirements and raising the full lump-sum withdrawal limit to Rs 8 lakh