The National Pension System (NPS) is an initiative backed by the government of India. It is a pension scheme that allows citizens to build a significant corpus for when they retire. This scheme was launched in 2004 for the benefit of government employees and was later extended to all citizens in 2009. If you want to subscribe to NPS, you need to open an NPS account (Tier 1) and deposit a minimum amount of Rs. 500 as an initial contribution.
Upon attaining superannuation age (60 years), you can withdraw a lump sum of up to 60% of the NPS corpus (you can withdraw up to 50% of the corpus after completing 25 years of service). The remaining funds are used to buy an annuity at the time of retirement to ensure you get a regular income.
NPS is managed and regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), which has now recommended all subscribers link their NPS account to their Aadhaar card.
If you are looking for a safe investment option, you can consider fixed deposit. They offer guaranteed returns and a fixed interest rate throughout your investment tenure. NPS offers the potential for higher returns due to its investment in market-linked assets. In contrast, fixed deposits offer a guaranteed interest rate that is locked in for the duration of your investment. This provides stability and predictability, especially important for risk-averse investors.