Retirement Planning

PFRDA has also issued a fresh circular outlining how subscriber information will be shared under the Multiple Scheme Framework (MSF) for non-government NPS subscribers

Updated : Jan 13, 2026

Pension 2026: NPS assured payouts on cards as PFRDA sets up high-level advisory panel

According to the PFRDA, the committee will function as a standing advisory body on structured pension payouts. Its central task is to design a regulatory framework for assured payout products under the NPS, including options outlined in PFRDA’s consultation paper released on September 30, 2025.

Chief Minister M K Stalin said the new scheme restores the core benefits of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) while retaining employee contributions similar to the National Pension System (NPS).

Updated : Jan 12, 2026

Guaranteed pension, mandatory contribution: Decoding Tamil Nadu’s Assured Pension Scheme

TAPS will be mandatory for all eligible employees joining service from January 1, 2026. Employees governed by CPS who retire on or after that date will also be covered, subject to the rules to be notified.

With Budget 2026 nearing, senior citizens expect changes to the old tax regime, where the basic exemption limit is Rs 3 lakh a year.

Updated : Jan 7, 2026

Union Budget 2026: After Budget 2025 tax relief, what can senior citizens expect from FM Sitharaman this year?

After getting meaningful tax relief in Budget 2025 through higher TDS thresholds and revised slabs, senior citizens are now turning their attention to what Budget 2026 may bring. With living costs rising and savings income under pressure, expectations are building for further exemptions and better returns on retirement savings.

PFRDA has revised the Investment Management Fee (IMF) structure for Pension Funds, effective April 1, 2026.

Updated : Jan 2, 2026

NPS reforms: PFRDA allows banks to set up pension funds, revises fee norms

At the heart of the overhaul is a decision to allow Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) to independently set up Pension Funds for managing NPS assets.

Government and non-government NPS exits follow separate rules. Govt subscribers are permitted to withdraw their accumulated savings at retirement, superannuation.

Updated : Dec 17, 2025

PFRDA eases NPS exit rules for non-government subscribers, lowers mandatory annuity to 20%

For non-government NPS subscribers, exit rules depend on the accumulated pension wealth (APW) and the type of exit. On normal exit after 15 years, at age 60, or on superannuation, subscribers with APW up to Rs 8 lakh can withdraw the entire amount as a lump sum without buying an annuity.

Before the 2025 amendment, non-government NPS subscribers were required to use 40% of their retirement corpus to purchase an annuity at the time of exit.

Updated : Dec 16, 2025

NPS exit rules changed: Non-govt subscribers can now withdraw up to 80% of retirement corpus

Under the revised framework, non-government NPS members, including those under the All Citizen Model and Corporate NPS, can now withdraw up to 80% of their retirement corpus as a lump sum or through structured withdrawal options at the time of exit.

Pension fund AUM stood at around Rs 16 lakh crore as of November 2025. Even a small allocation to gold and silver could translate into meaningful incremental demand over time.

Updated : Dec 16, 2025

How PFRDA's nod to gold, silver ETFs will alter retirement investment playbook - expert explains

The pension investment landscape in India is set for a major shift after the PFRDA allowed exposure to gold and silver ETFs under the NPS. Alok Jain said the move opens up long-term, stable capital flows into precious metals for the first time. The change is expected to reshape retirement portfolios by encouraging broader diversification.

Retirement planning isn’t about chasing a magic number. It’s about creating peace of mind, where money isn’t a source of stress or worry.

Updated : Dec 11, 2025

Retirement dreams vs reality: How much you really need to save for Rs 50 lakh/year? CA explains investment plan

Retirement dreams often focus on stress-free income and financial independence, but few consider the real cost. CA Nitin Kaushik said that most Indians do not have an exact idea about how much should you have in your golden years for a smooth survival

Stock-market exposure has been restricted to a ceiling of 25%. Within this limit, funds may participate in IPOs, FPOs, OFS offerings or invest through index-based equity products.

Updated : Dec 11, 2025

NPS gets makeover: Gold, silver ETFs, AIFs, new bonds added to investment menu

Under the revised framework, they can park as much as 65% of their corpus in government bonds, which remain the lowest-risk option. Another 45% can be deployed in corporate debt and related fixed-income products.

For completing proof of identity (PoI), NRIs will need to present their Indian passport, while OCIs may provide either their OCI card or a foreign passport.

Updated : Dec 3, 2025

NRIs and OCIs can now complete NPS KYC remotely as India eases onboarding requirements; check details

Under the revised framework, NRIs and OCIs can now undergo digital onboarding or modify their existing KYC details from any location worldwide. Necessary identity and address documents—such as passports, OCI cards, or overseas residential proofs—may be submitted electronically.

The Employees’ Pension Scheme, introduced in 1995, is one of India’s largest social security frameworks for organised sector workers.

Updated : Dec 2, 2025

EPS-95 pension hike: Is the government planning to raise the minimum pension amount?

EPS 1995 operates as a Defined Contribution–Defined Benefit social security scheme. The pension fund is financed through an employer contribution of 8.33% of wages and a central government contribution of 1.16% on wages up to Rs 15,000 per month. Benefits are disbursed from the accumulated corpus, which, as per the actuarial valuation dated March 31, 2019, reflects a deficit.

Calling for a mindset shift, he insists that a realistic retirement corpus in today’s India lies between ₹8-10 crore.

Updated : Nov 30, 2025

‘₹3 cr dream is dead’: Financial advisor breaks down the harsh reality of retirement in India

The expert dismantles the idea that the traditional ₹3 crore corpus can support a dignified retirement, adding that this does not include medical emergencies, travel, or major one-time expenses that typically rise with age.

A crucial pillar of the FIRE journey is knowing the target corpus, commonly estimated by multiplying annual post-retirement expenses by 25.

Updated : Nov 29, 2025

Is FIRE even realistic for Indian professionals in present times, what can I do to make early retirement doable?

India’s FIRE movement is growing fast, but the reality behind early retirement is far more complex. Rising living costs, limited social security and unpredictable medical expenses make the journey harder than most imagine. Experts say FIRE demands not just money— but discipline, structure and emotional readiness.

His advice is structured but blunt: build three buckets (safety, growth, legacy), triple your health cover, and rebalance every year.

Updated : Nov 28, 2025

Why India’s middle class may retire broke: Advisor reveals brutal financial reality

“Rich people don’t retire differently because they’re rich,” Guhaa concludes. “They’re rich because they retired differently.”

While short-term take-home pay may decline, Bangar argues the new regime delivers long-term financial security through enforced savings discipline.

Updated : Nov 26, 2025

'₹2.13 crore gain, ₹4,800 loss': Tax expert explains new labour law's impact on your salary

For a 30-year-old employee with a ₹12 lakh CTC, monthly PF contributions (from both employer and employee) will rise from around ₹7,200 to ₹12,000. This ₹4,800 monthly increase, when compounded over three decades, translates into a staggering ₹1.24 crore in additional PF savings.

The intent of the reform is clear: to formalize compensation structures and strengthen financial security for the workforce.

Updated : Nov 24, 2025

New labour law could quietly cut your salary even if your CTC stays the same

For employers, the move increases their own statutory burden. A higher basic pay means a higher employer contribution to PF and gratuity. Companies aiming to maintain payroll budgets may restructure pay without increasing total CTC, further impacting employee take-home.

Kaushik emphasized that a higher target—₹10 crore—is a more realistic benchmark.

Updated : Nov 24, 2025

'₹1 crore not enough': CA warns middle class their retirement plan may already fall short

A family with current annual basic expenses of ₹6 lakh will see that grow to roughly ₹19 lakh in 20 years. That means ₹1 crore would only fund about five years of basic living expenses—far from the multi-decade retirement many envision.

His core message: retirement is not about hitting a magic number, but having the freedom to say no. “Too many people chase a number. Very few chase a plan,” he wrote.

Updated : Nov 17, 2025

‘Even ₹10 crore is not enough to retire in India’: Founder busts a middle class myth

“Inflation doesn’t take a break just because you retired,” Maddala said, underscoring the need for realistic financial modeling. He stressed that asset allocation trumps corpus size, and that fixed deposits alone are no longer sufficient to sustain long-term needs.

DA is granted to serving government employees as a cost-of-living adjustment, whereas pensioners receive DR.

Updated : Nov 14, 2025

Govt denies claims of DA, pay commission cuts for pensioners; benefits remain intact

A claim circulating on social media has alleged the withdrawal of Dearness Allowance and Pay Commission benefits for central government pensioners. Official sources have refuted the claim, confirming that these post-retirement benefits remain unchanged for most pensioners, except in specific cases of dismissed absorbed PSU employees.

A growing chorus of personal finance voices is challenging India’s traditional view of retirement, arguing that the milestone is no longer defined by age but by financial independence.

Updated : Nov 13, 2025

Retirement redefined: Passive income, not 60 years, now marks true financial freedom, say experts

Retirement is no longer about turning 60 or leaving the workplace—it’s about achieving financial independence. As careers evolve and lifespans lengthen, the idea of a fixed retirement age is giving way to a more flexible, self-defined milestone.

Under the new rules, employees are allowed to make voluntary contributions under the Multiple Scheme Framework (MSF) within NPS.