Retirement planning: The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) is a hybrid pension plan that combines elements of defined contribution and defined benefit to provide a reliable income stream for retirees. Initially introduced by the Government on January 24, 2025, as an alternative within the National Pension System (NPS), UPS is scheduled to go into effect on … Read more
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
The Public Provident Fund (PPF) is a government-backed retirement savings scheme that offers guaranteed returns on investments through compound interest. Established in 1968 by the National Savings Institute, the investment tool is a long-term savings option that includes a mandatory 15-year lock-in period. However, many investors wonder whether the PPF interest rate is the same … Read more
Planning for Retirement: I am considering investing Rs 50,000 through SIPs over the next 15 years to build my retirement savings. Currently, my expenses are below Rs 30,000 as children are settled in their respective jobs and don’t wish to get married so soon. Taking into account inflation and post-retirement expenses, I am curious to … 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
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
Awareness regarding retirement planning is on the rise in urban India as more individuals are recognizing the importance of starting early. For those seeking to maximise their returns, transferring funds from an Employee Provident Fund (EPF) account to a National Pension System (NPS) account could prove to be a game-changing decision. While transferring funds from … Read more
The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) was introduced in 2015 to provide a guaranteed pension of up to Rs 5,000 to its subscribers. The scheme offers five fixed pension options: Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 4,000, and Rs 5,000. Individuals aged between 18 and 40 can enroll in the scheme, ensuring a secure pension … Read more
The Centre is looking at comprehensive changes in its social security schemes under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation that could enable subscribers to contribute for higher pension. Additionally, it is also working on a revamp of the IT systems of the EPFO for a more seamless and efficient services to subscribers and easier withdrawals. According to … Read more