FinanceNATIO
National Pension System (NPS)
A voluntary define-contribution pension system to build a retirement corpus, offering tax deductions up to ₹2 Lakh under Section 80C and 80CCD, with market-linked annuity payouts.
NOTICE
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Apply on official portalOpens the official portal · We never charge
Official fee
₹0 — completely free
NPS registration is free. However, PoPs charge nominal transaction costs (e.g. ₹200-₹400 for opening), and PFRDA charges regulated annual maintenance and fund management fees (0.01% - 0.09%) directly from AUM.
Beware of lookalike portals
Only transact on official eNPS websites (enps.nsdl.com, enps.kfintech.com) or at authorized branches. Do not share your PRAN details or password with unofficial consultants.
Only the "Apply on official portal" button above leads to the verified government site.
Highlights and Media
Key Highlights
Up to ₹2 Lakh Tax Benefit
Deduct ₹1.5L under Sec 80C plus an exclusive additional ₹50,000 under Sec 80CCD(1B).
60% Tax-Free Lumpsum
On reaching maturity at 60, withdraw 60% of the retirement corpus completely tax-free.
Low-Cost Asset Management
One of the world's cheapest pension schemes with fund management fees under 0.09% p.a.
Tier I vs Tier II Account structure
Understanding the differences in liquidity and tax rules
Tax Deductions (Sec 80C & 80CCD)
Tier I OnlyOnly Tier I contributions qualify for deductions up to ₹2 Lakhs per annum.
Withdrawal Liquidity
Restricted vs FreeTier I is locked till age 60; Tier II allows unlimited withdrawals at any time.
Who is eligible
- Subscriber is between 18 and 70 years old
Eligibility rules · v1 · effective 1 January 2020
Who is not eligible
- NPS entry age must be 70 years or below.
- NPS registration is only open for citizens aged 18 and above.
How to apply
Register online or at a PoP
Visit the official eNPS portal or go to a registered commercial bank branch representing a Point of Presence.
Typical duration · 1 day
Fill application and complete eKYC
Submit personal details, link PAN and Aadhaar, perform OTP verification, and upload passport photo and signature.
Typical duration · 1 day
Choose fund manager and make first contribution
Select your Pension Fund Manager (PFM), pick Auto or Active investment mode, and pay initial contribution (min ₹500).
Typical duration · 1 day
Receive PRAN card
A unique 12-digit Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) is generated and the physical PRAN card is sent.
Typical duration · 7 days
Sources
- NSDL Central Recordkeeping Agency for NPSMINISTRY_PORTAL · Fetched 5 July 2026
Additional Details
The National Pension System (NPS) is a defined-contribution pension system in India, regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). Originally designed for government employees, it was opened to all Indian citizens (resident and non-resident) and OCI card holders between 18 and 70 years of age.
Subscribers contribute to their Tier-I retirement account periodically, which is managed by empanelled private and public Pension Fund Managers (PFMs) across Equities, Corporate Bonds, and Government Securities. NPS offers substantial tax benefits: deductions up to ₹1.5 Lakh under Section 80CCD(1) (within the Section 80C limit), plus an exclusive additional deduction of up to ₹50,000 under Section 80CCD(1B).
Upon reaching age 60, up to 60% of the accumulated corpus can be withdrawn tax-free as a lump sum. The remaining 40% must be used to purchase an annuity plan from an Annuity Service Provider (ASP) to yield a regular monthly pension.
Applying is free. Open an account online via eNPS or at any registered Point of Presence (PoP) branch (such as commercial banks). Only standard, regulated fund management fees are deducted from the assets under management.