The National Pension System (NPS), regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), stands out as an accessible retirement savings scheme for Indian citizens aged 18 to 70, including NRIs. This initiative, initially limited to Central Government employees, expanded post-May 2009 to embrace the private sector, offering diverse models such as NPS … Read more
Effective April 1, 2025, new income tax regulations have been introduced following the enactment of the Finance Act 2025. One of the significant changes is the increased income limit for individuals opting for the new Income Tax regime to avail rebates under Section 87A. The threshold has been raised from Rs 7 lakh to Rs … Read more
The Centre is set to introduce the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) on April 1, providing a fixed pension security to central government employees. Designed within the framework of the National Pension System (NPS), UPS aims to give a guaranteed pension, particularly beneficial for those employees seeking a stable post-retirement income. Central government employees who are … Read more
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has released regulations for the implementation of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) within the National Pension System (NPS). These updated guidelines, which will take effect on April 1, 2025, outline the qualifications and procedures for central government employees to enroll in UPS. Eligibility for UPS The regulations … Read more
NPS vs OPS: The Central Pension Accounting Office has recently released updated guidelines aimed at ensuring retired employees of the National Pension System receive their pensions in a timely manner. In a memo dated March 12, 2025, the CPAO has reiterated to officials involved in processing NPS pension cases that they should adhere to the … Read more
The ongoing downturn in benchmark equity indices has resulted in a decrease in the average annual returns of the National Pension System (NPS). Since September 27, 2024, both the Sensex and Nifty have dropped by more than 17% and 18% respectively. The decline in the Nifty 50 index has impacted long-term gains, causing concern among … Read more
As March 2025 approaches, significant financial deadlines demand the attention of investors and taxpayers alike. Among these, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has granted an extension for activating the Universal Account Number (UAN) and seeding Aadhaar with bank accounts until 15th March 2025. This extension, crucial for accessing benefits under the Employee-Linked Incentive (ELI) … Read more
The recent downturn in equity benchmarks has had a significant impact on the annual returns of equity investments in the National Pension System (NPS), which have now decreased to 10.89% as of February 1, based on the latest data from the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The decline in benchmarks by over 10% … Read more
Tax savings tools: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several changes that brought cheer to the middle class. From raising the limit of rebate from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 12 lakh under the New Tax Regime (NTR), FM Sitharaman tweaked the tax slabs in a manner that would benefit taxpayers in higher salary brackets as … Read more
Budget expectations: On February 1, 2025, Union Budget will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the Lok Sabha. Income taxpayers are expecting significant tax breaks. The taxpayers may expect some big changes as PM Narendra Modi and President Draupadi Murmu hinted at some major shakeup. Ahead of the Budget 2025, President Draupadi Murmu suggested … Read more