NPS Guides
Practical, decision-oriented walkthroughs for the choices NPS actually asks of you.
Your first 30 days on NPS
A short checklist to go from nothing to a funded, well-configured account.
Open a PRAN
Register on eNPS with Aadhaar or PAN, or through a Point of Presence.
Pick your CRA
Choose Protean, KFin, or CAMS — you can migrate later.
Set investment choice
Start with Auto Choice if unsure; refine to Active later.
Make the first contribution
A small amount activates the account; set up regular top-ups.
Activate D-Remit
Register a virtual account for same-day NAV and easy SIP-style saving.
Add a nominee
Nominate up to three people (shares totalling 100%) — paperless with OTP and e-Sign.
Read more — getting the basics right
A few numbers and choices are worth getting right at the start — they decide how smoothly the account runs later.
Good to know
- You can open NPS between ages 18 and 85; a Tier I account can start from as little as ₹500
- Keep at least ₹1,000 flowing in each financial year, or the account freezes and needs a small reactivation fee
- Auto Choice manages the equity-debt mix by age; switch to Active Choice once you want to set the split yourself
- D-Remit gives same-day NAV and makes SIP-style monthly saving easy through a virtual account
- Add a nominee early — it is paperless and spares your family delays on a claim later
Choosing how your money is invested
The 2025 Multiple Scheme Framework widened the options — here is how to think about them.
Under Auto Choice a lifecycle fund tapers equity as you age; under Active Choice you set the split yourself. The Multiple Scheme Framework (MSF), live from October 2025, lets you run multiple schemes under one PRAN and, in schemes created under MSF, opt for up to 100% equity — beyond the earlier 75% cap.
Making the most of NPS tax breaks
NPS carries deductions that most other products do not — used together they add up.
80CCD(1)
Your own contribution, within the overall 80C ceiling.
80CCD(1B)
An extra deduction of up to ₹50,000 over and above 80C.
80CCD(2)
Employer contribution — deductible and available under the new regime too.
Plan the mix
Salaried subscribers often gain most from the 80CCD(2) employer route.
NPS when you switch jobs or sectors
The PRAN is portable — you carry the same account across employers, cities, and sectors.
Keep your PRAN
The same 12-digit number stays with you; never open a second one.
Update your employer
Give the PRAN to a new employer to route Corporate contributions.
Shift sector if needed
Use Inter-Sector Shifting (ISS) to move between Government, Corporate, and All Citizen models.
Reconcile
Check the Statement of Transaction after the switch to confirm credits.
NPS for the self-employed and NRIs
Self-employed individuals join under the All Citizen model and contribute directly, claiming 80CCD(1) and the extra 80CCD(1B) deduction. NRIs and OCIs aged 18–85 can open NPS through eNPS using an NRE or NRO bank account, subject to FEMA rules.
Planning your retirement drawdown
At exit you combine a lump sum with an annuity. Systematic Lump Sum Withdrawal (SLW) lets you draw the lump-sum portion in phased instalments instead of one payout, keeping the balance invested. You can now continue the account up to age 85, and smaller corpuses face lighter annuity rules under the 2025 amendment.
Read more — SLW and deferral
You set up SLW through your CRA and choose the frequency — monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual — so the lump-sum portion is paid out in instalments while the units you have not yet drawn stay invested and move with NAV. It applies only to the lump-sum share; the annuity portion for your corpus band still has to be bought.
Good to know
- You can usually start, pause or change the SLW amount and frequency later
- Any balance still left is redeemed by age 85
- Deferring means telling the CRA before the standard exit — you hold off the annuity and keep the corpus invested
- At exit the lump sum is largely tax-favoured, while annuity income is taxed at your slab
Compiled from PFRDA (pfrda.org.in), the NPS Trust (npstrust.org.in), and CRA guidance, reflecting the 2025 Multiple Scheme Framework and exit-rule changes. These guides are educational and general, not personalised financial advice.
NPS Desk is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with PFRDA, the NPS Trust, or any CRA. Rules and figures change — verify on the official PFRDA, NPS Trust, or CRA channels before acting.
Find the right form or service
Jump to Forms & Downloads for the paperwork, or Account Services to make a change online.