Different Types of Pension Plans in India: 2025

Pension plans include NPS, EPF, PPF, annuity plans, and government schemes, ensuring financial security through regular income after retirement.
Different Types of Pension Plans
4 min
28-January-2026

Pension plans are designed to help you maintain financial stability once your regular income stops. They ensure a steady flow of money after retirement, helping you manage daily expenses, medical costs, and lifestyle needs without depending on others.

In India, pension planning includes government-backed schemes like the National Pension Scheme (NPS) and Atal Pension Yojana, employer-supported options like the Employee Provident Fund (EPF), and market-linked pension funds offered by private institutions. Each plan serves a different purpose and suits different risk profiles.

Alongside pension plans, many retirees also rely on invest options like Bajaj Finance Fixed Deposits to add predictability to their retirement income, thanks to assured returns, flexible tenures, and high safety ratings.

What are pension plans?

Pension plans are long-term financial products that help individuals save systematically for life after retirement. These plans ensure continuity of income once active earnings stop. Pension plans can be contributory—where individuals invest regularly—or non-contributory, where employers or the government contribute on the individual’s behalf.

They may offer fixed returns, market-linked growth, or a combination of both. The accumulated corpus is usually paid as a lump sum, regular pension, or annuity after retirement. Some plans offer immediate payouts, while others grow over time and provide income later.

While pension plans focus on long-term income, retirees often complement them with Bajaj Finance Fixed Deposits, which provide assured returns and payout flexibility—useful for managing predictable expenses post-retirement.

Bajaj Finance FDs come with cumulative and non-cumulative options, allowing retirees to choose between wealth accumulation or regular income. Book FD.

Fixed Deposit

  1. Trusted by over 5 lakh customers
  2. Fixed Deposits worth more than Rs. 50,000 crore booked
  3. Rated CRISIL AAA/STABLE and [ICRA]AAA(STABLE)
  4. Up to 0.35% p.a. extra interest offered for senior citizens
  5. Flexible interest payout options available - Monthly, Quarterly, Half-yearly, Annually or at Maturity

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Types of pension plans in India

India offers multiple pension options designed to suit different income levels, employment types, and risk appetites. Understanding these plans helps you choose the right mix for retirement security.

National Pension Scheme

The National Pension Scheme (NPS) is a government-backed retirement plan that invests in equity, corporate debt, and government securities. It has Tier I (mandatory, with restrictions) and Tier II (voluntary, with flexible withdrawals) accounts. NPS offers market-linked growth and partial tax benefits, making it suitable for long-term retirement planning.

Atal Pension Yojana

Atal Pension Yojana is targeted at low-income individuals and workers in the unorganised sector. Subscribers receive a fixed monthly pension ranging from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 after retirement, depending on their contribution and age at entry.

Employee Provident Fund

EPF is a compulsory retirement scheme for salaried employees, funded jointly by employees and employers. The corpus grows with fixed interest and can be withdrawn at retirement or job change, offering stability and long-term savings.

Public Provident Fund

PPF is a 15-year government-backed savings scheme offering guaranteed returns and tax benefits. It suits conservative investors who prefer capital protection and disciplined long-term saving.

Pension Funds

Pension funds invest across equity and debt markets and are managed by professional fund managers. These plans are market-linked and suitable for individuals seeking higher long-term growth with managed risk.

Annuity Plans

Annuity plans convert a lump sum into regular income post-retirement. Immediate annuities start payouts instantly, while deferred annuities begin after a chosen period. These plans provide income certainty.

To balance market-linked pension plans, many retirees park a portion of their savings in Bajaj Finance Fixed Deposits, backed by AAA-Stable ratings from CRISIL and ICRA for added safety. Book now!

How much should you invest in a pension plan?

The right investment amount depends on your lifestyle expectations, inflation, and retirement age.

  • Estimate post-retirement expenses such as healthcare, housing, and daily costs
  • Factor in inflation, as living costs rise over time
  • Assess current savings and existing investments
  • Apply the 80% rule, which suggests retirees need around 80% of pre-retirement income
  • Choose the right tenure, as early starters benefit from compounding
  • Diversify investments across equity, debt, and fixed-income options
  • Plan liquidity, keeping emergency funds aside

Bajaj Finance Fixed Deposits offer flexible tenures and predictable returns of up to 7.30% p.a., making retirement planning simpler and more transparent. Book FD.

How different pension plans impact your investment amount?

Different pension plans influence how much you need to invest to reach your retirement goals. Fixed-income options like annuities require larger upfront investments for guaranteed payouts. Market-linked plans like NPS or pension funds allow smaller contributions initially but carry return variability.

Government-backed schemes such as PPF require long-term consistency, while EPF builds corpus gradually through salary deductions. A well-balanced strategy often combines growth-oriented pension plans with stable instruments.

Adding Bajaj Finance Fixed Deposits to your retirement mix helps stabilise returns, offering fixed interest rates, multiple payout options, and convenient digital booking. Check latest FD rates.

Conclusion

Pension plans are the foundation of a secure retirement, but relying on a single instrument may not be enough. A thoughtful mix of government schemes, market-linked plans, and stable fixed-income options ensures both growth and certainty.

Calculate your expected investment returns with the help of our investment calculators.

Investment Calculator

Fixed Deposit Calculator

SSY Calculator

PPF Calculator

RD Calculator

PF Calculator

Gratuity Calculator

 

Frequently asked questions

What are the types of pensions?
There are various types of pensions available for retirement planning. These include government-backed schemes like the National Pension Scheme and Atal Pension Yojana, employer-sponsored plans such as the Employee Provident Fund, and individual savings plans like the Public Provident Fund. Other options include pension funds, annuity plans, and market-linked retirement investments offering financial security post-retirement.

Why include Bajaj Finance Fixed Deposits along with pension plans?

Bajaj Finance FDs add stability to retirement planning with AAA-rated safety, assured returns, and digital ease—balancing market-linked pension risks. Open FD.

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Disclaimer

As regards deposit taking activity of Bajaj Finance Ltd (BFL), the viewers may refer to the advertisement in the Indian Express (Mumbai Edition) and Loksatta (Pune Edition) furnished in the application form for soliciting public deposits or refer https://www.bajajfinserv.in/fixed-deposit-archives The company is having a valid Certificate of Registration dated March 5, 1998 issued by the Reserve Bank of India under section 45 IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. However, the RBI does not accept any responsibility or guarantee about the present position as to the financial soundness of the company or for the correctness of any of the statements or representations made or opinions expressed by the company and for repayment of deposits/discharge of the liabilities by the company.

For the FD calculator the actual returns may vary slightly if the Fixed Deposit tenure includes a leap year.

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