NPS was introduced by the Central Government to help the individuals have income in the form of pension to take care of their retirement needs.
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) regulates and administers NPS under the PFRDA Act, 2013.
NPS is a market-linked defined contribution scheme that helps you save for your retirement. The scheme is simple, voluntary, portable and flexible. It is one of the most efficient ways of boosting your retirement income and saving tax. It allows you to plan for a financially secure retirement with systematic savings in a planned way.
NPS is available to all the citizens of India and offers different models depending on the following user segments:Returns/Interest :: A portion of the NPS goes to equities (this may not offer guaranteed returns). However, it offers returns that are much higher than other traditional tax-saving investments like the PPF.
This scheme has been in effect for over a decade, and so far has delivered 9% to 12% annualised returns. In NPS, you are also allowed the option to change your fund manager if you are not happy with the performance of the fund.
Risk Assessment :: Currently, there is a cap in the range of 50% to 75% on equity exposure for the National Pension Scheme. For government employees, this cap is 50%. In the range prescribed, the equity portion will reduce by 2.5% each year beginning from the year in which the investor turns 50 years of age.
However, for an investor of the age 60 years and above, the cap is fixed at 50%. This stabilizes the risk-return equation in the interest of investors, which means the corpus is somewhat safe from the equity market volatility.
The earning potential of NPS is higher as compared to other fixed-income schemes.
Regulated :: The PFRDA regulates NPS with transparent investment norms, regular performance reviews, and monitoring of fund managers by NPS Trust. The PFRDA regulates NPS with transparent investment norms, regular performance reviews, and monitoring of fund managers by NPS Trust.
Flexibility :: The NPS subscription is flexible. NPS subscribers can contribute to the NPS fund at any time in a financial year and change the number of subscriptions. They can choose their own investment options. They can operate their account online from anywhere and continue it even when they change their city and employment.
Presently, a person can withdraw up to 60% of the total corpus as a lump amount after retirement, with the remaining 40% going into an annuity plan. Subscribers can withdraw the entire corpus if it is less than or equal to Rs 5 lakh without purchasing an annuity plan under the new NPS guidelines. These withdrawals are also tax-free.
For example, if a person has a Rs 4.5 lakh corpus, they can withdraw the entire sum after retirement. However, if the corpus exceeds Rs 10 lakh, the tax-free withdrawal limit is Rs 6 lakh. For the remaining Rs 4 lakh, they must get an annuity plan.
Although withdrawals are tax-free, an annuity is taxable based on the income bracket. As a result, if your annuity is worth Rs 4 lakh, it will be taxed at the individual's tax bracket rate. The payment is taxable in accordance with the years of payment.
Upon Superannuation :: When a subscriber reaches the age of Superannuation/reaches the age of 60, he or she must use at least 40% of the accrued pension corpus to purchase an annuity that provides a regular monthly pension. The remaining monies are available for withdrawal as a lump payment.
Subscribers can take a 100% lump sum withdrawal if their entire accrued pension corpus is less than or equivalent to Rs.5 lakh.
Pre-mature Exit :: In the event of a premature exit (before reaching the age of superannuation/turning 60), at least 80% of the Subscriber's accrued pension corpus must be used to purchase an Annuity that provides a regular monthly income. If the total corpus is less than or equal to Rs.2.5 lakh, the subscriber can opt for 100% lumpsum withdrawal.
Upon the death of the subscriber :: Following the subscriber's death, the entire accrued pension corpus (100%) would be paid to the subscriber's nominee/legal heir.
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DISCLAIMER -
The National Pension System (NPS) is subject to market risks and regulatory changes. The returns are not guaranteed and depend on the performance of the underlying securities in which the funds are invested. Past performance does not indicate future returns. Subscribers are advised to carefully read the terms and conditions of the NPS scheme, including the offer documents, before investing. It is recommended to consult a financial advisor for personalized advice based on your individual financial needs and goals. Investments in NPS are exposed to various risks, including the loss of principal.