The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has introduced changes to the National Pension System (NPS) framework by reclassifying entities under the corporate model into two categories—government entities and legal entities other than government.
Reclassification of NPS corporate model
Under the revised framework, organisations such as central and state public sector undertakings (PSUs), statutory bodies, and other government-controlled institutions can transition to the government sector model. Private companies, limited liability partnerships (LLPs), trusts, and societies will continue under a separate legal-entity category.
The earlier corporate category included a mix of entities with varying operational structures.
“The revised classification seeks to align organisations with structures that better reflect their governance and administrative capabilities,” said Pratik Vaidya, Managing Director at Karma Management Global Consulting Solutions.
Impact on servicing and cost structure
The reclassification may lead to differences in how NPS accounts are serviced. Government entities with the required infrastructure can directly interface with the Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA), while non-government entities will continue to operate through an employer-led model involving intermediaries such as Points of Presence (PoPs).
For subscribers, this could translate into differences in cost structures and service mechanisms depending on the classification of their employer, Vaidya said.
Introduction of AUM-linked PoP charges
For legal entities other than government, PFRDA has introduced an annual PoP charge of 0.20% of assets under management (AUM), which will be adjusted through net asset value (NAV) and charged on a quarterly basis, with applicable taxes.
For example, a corpus of ₹10 lakh would attract an annual charge of about ₹2,000, while ₹50 lakh would translate to around ₹10,000, excluding GST. The shift moves PoP compensation from a transaction-based model to one linked to the size of the pension corpus.
Removal of PoP layer for government entities
The updated rules remove the role of PoPs for government entities that have the capability to manage NPS operations independently. These entities are expected to handle onboarding, contribution processing, grievance redressal, and exit-related functions directly through the CRA system.
According to Vaidya, removing the intermediary layer could reduce processing friction and eliminate PoP-related charges for employees in such organisations.
e-NPS route and cost implications
PFRDA has clarified that subscribers who open accounts directly through the e-NPS platform and continue contributions digitally will not incur PoP charges. However, those onboarded through a PoP will remain subject to these charges, regardless of how contributions are made later.
In employer-sponsored models, account opening is typically routed through the employer, which may limit individual choice of onboarding channel.
Structural shift in NPS framework
The reclassification, changes in fee structure, and removal of intermediary layers in certain cases indicate a broader shift in how the NPS ecosystem is organised.
“This is not just a fee revision but a structural clean-up of the NPS distribution architecture,” Vaidya said, adding that the changes aim to better differentiate between government-linked and non-government entities while improving transparency in costs and processes.