What is NPS ?
NPS (National Pension System) is launched by Government of India, and regulated by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), as a defined contribution based Pension Scheme and provides following objectives
- To secure old age sustainability of all citizens
- Market based returns over long period of time
- To ascertain regular income in old age
PFRDA allots unique Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) to each citizen upon joining NPS.
The Government of India initially adopted 'National Pension System' (NPS) based on defined contributions for all new employees joining after 1st Jan 2004 with Central Government services, except the Armed Forces. Thereafter majority of the State Governments have also followed the pursuit for all the new employees joining.
NPS accumulates savings into subscribers Permanent Retirement Account, while he is working. The accumulated sum and returns there upon is used to procure the pension for the subscriber.
With effect from 1st May 2009, PFRDA made option available to all citizens of India to join National Pension System voluntarily. PFRDA has also launched the NPS-Corporate Sector Model, to enable the employees working in the private entities to join the scheme and avail similar benefits as the Government Employees.
