National Pension System (NPS) ek sarkari retirement savings scheme hai, jo Bharat mein logon ko unke retirement ke baad financial security dene ke liye shuru ki gayi thi. Yeh scheme pehli baar January 2004 mein government employees ke liye launch hui thi, lekin baad mein sabhi nagrikon ke liye voluntary basis par available kar di gayi. NPS ka maqsad hai ki log apni working life mein systematic savings karein, taaki unka ek retirement corpus ban sake aur unhe retirement ke baad ek regular income milti rahe.
NPS ke Key Features
- Voluntary Participation:
- NPS sabhi Bharatiya nagrikon ke liye open hai, including NRIs, jo 18 se 70 saal ke beech hain. Yeh scheme aapko apne career ke kisi bhi stage par shuru karne ki suvidha deti hai, jisse yeh kaafi flexible aur sabhi ke liye upyogi ban jaati hai.
- Flexible Contributions:
- NPS mein aap apne savings plan ko poori tarah se control kar sakte hain. Aap decide kar sakte hain ki kitna aur kitni baar contribute karna hai. Ismein koi fixed annual contribution ki zaroorat nahi hai, isliye aap apni financial situation ke hisaab se contributions kar sakte hain.
- Diverse Investment Options:
- NPS aapko kai tarah ke investment options deta hai, jaise equity (shares), government bonds, aur corporate debt. Aap apni risk tolerance aur financial goals ke hisaab se investment ka mix choose kar sakte hain, ya phir auto allocation ka option bhi le sakte hain, jisme aapki umar ke hisaab se investment ko manage kiya jata hai.
- Portability:
- Aapka NPS account poori tarah se portable hai, matlab yeh aapke saath jobs aur locations ke across move kar sakta hai bina kisi dikkat ke. Yeh un logon ke liye khaas labhkari hai jo aksar apni job ya jagah badalte hain.
- Regulated by PFRDA:
- Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) NPS ko regulate karti hai, jo aapke funds ke management mein transparency, safety, aur efficiency ko ensure karti hai.
- Low Cost:
- NPS ek sabse cost-effective retirement product hai, jisme fund management charges bahut kam hote hain. Isse aapke contribution ka bada hissa aapke retirement corpus ko grow karne mein lagta hai.
Tier I aur Tier II Accounts ki Puri Jaankari
NPS do tarah ke accounts offer karta hai: Tier I aur Tier II. Dono alag-alag financial zarooraton ko pura karte hain aur inke apne unique features, benefits, aur limitations hote hain.
Tier I Account: Primary Pension Account
Yeh NPS ka main account hai, jo long-term ke liye retirement corpus banane ke liye design kiya gaya hai.
- Mandatory Nature: NPS ka hissa banne ke liye yeh account zaroori hai.
- Tax Benefits:
- Section 80C: ₹1.5 lakh per annum tak ke contributions par tax deductions milte hain.
- Section 80CCD(1B): Iske alawa ₹50,000 per annum tak ka additional deduction mil sakta hai.
- Employer Contributions: Section 80CCD(2) ke tahat employer contributions par bhi tax deductions milte hain.
- Restricted Withdrawals: Retirement se pehle withdrawals limited hote hain aur sirf kuch khaas conditions mein allowed hote hain.
- Lock-in Period: Funds 60 saal ki age tak lock-in rehte hain. Retirement ke baad corpus ka 60% tax-free withdraw kiya ja sakta hai, aur bache hue 40% se annuity purchase karna zaroori hai, jo aapko regular pension dega.
- Portability: Jobs aur locations ke across yeh account poori tarah se portable hai.
- Low Cost: Isme fund management charges bahut kam hote hain, jisse yeh cost-effective banta hai.
Tier II Account: Voluntary Savings Account
Yeh ek optional savings account hai jo aapke Tier I account se linked hota hai, aur flexibility aur liquidity (cash banane ki aasani) offer karta hai.
- Voluntary Nature: Yeh optional hai aur tabhi khola ja sakta hai jab aapka Tier I account ho.
- No Tax Benefits: Government employees ke alawa, Tier II contributions par tax benefits nahi milte.
- No Lock-in Period: Yeh poori tarah se liquid hai, matlab aap jab chahein apne funds withdraw kar sakte hain bina kisi rukawat ke.
- Flexibility in Withdrawals: Funds ko aap kabhi bhi withdraw kar sakte hain bina kisi penalty ke.
- No Compulsory Annuity Purchase: Tier I ke opposite, yaha corpus ke saath annuity purchase karna zaroori nahi hai.
- Investment Choices: Tier I ki tarah, yeh bhi equities, corporate bonds, aur government securities mein investment options deta hai.
Difference in Tier I and Tier II Accounts
| Feature | Tier I Account | Tier II Account |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | NPS mein participate karne ke liye mandatory | Voluntary, Tier I account se linked hai |
| Tax Benefits | Haan, Section 80C aur 80CCD ke tahat | Tax benefits nahi hain (government employees ke alawa) |
| Lock-in Period | Haan, age 60 tak | Koi lock-in period nahi |
| Withdrawals | Limited, specific conditions ke saath | Puri tarah se flexible, kabhi bhi withdraw kar sakte hain |
| Contribution Limits | Contributions par koi upper limit nahi | Upper limit nahi, lekin mandatory contributions bhi nahi |
| Annuity Purchase | Retirement ke baad corpus ka 40% annuity mein use karna zaroori | Annuity purchase karna zaroori nahi hai |
| Investment Choices | Equities, Corporate Bonds, Government Securities | Equities, Corporate Bonds, Government Securities |
| Portability | Jobs aur locations ke across fully portable | Tier I account se linked hai, isliye yeh bhi portable hai |
| Purpose | Long-term retirement savings | Short- to medium-term goals ke liye flexible savings |
Investment Options in NPS
NPS teen main asset classes mein investment options offer karta hai:
- Equity (E): Shares mein investment.
- Corporate Bonds (C): Companies ke fixed income instruments mein investment.
- Government Bonds (G): Government securities mein investment.
Active Choice vs. Auto Choice
- Active Choice: Investors apne funds ka allocation khud kar sakte hain alag-alag asset classes mein.
- Auto Choice: Isme allocation automatically subscriber ki age ke hisaab se manage hota hai, jisme young age mein zyada equity exposure hota hai aur retirement ke nazdeek aate hi safe investments ki taraf shift hota hai.
Withdrawal Rules
- On Retirement: Corpus ka 60% tak tax-free withdraw kiya ja sakta hai; 40% ko annuity purchase ke liye use karna zaroori hai.
- Before Retirement: Kuch khaas conditions mein partial withdrawals allowed hain, jaise medical emergencies ya bachon ki higher education ke liye.
- Exit Before 60 Years: Agar aap 60 saal se pehle exit karte hain, to corpus ka 80% annuity purchase ke liye use karna padta hai aur 20% aap lump sum ke roop mein withdraw kar sakte hain.
NPS ke Benefits
- Long-Term Financial Security: Yeh aapko substantial retirement corpus banane mein madad karta hai.
- Compounding Growth: Invested corpus time ke saath kaafi growth karta hai.
- Professional Fund Management: PFRDA ke dwara appoint kiye gaye professional fund managers aapke funds ko manage karte hain.
- Flexibility: Investment choices aur contribution amounts mein flexibility provide karta hai.
NPS ke Challenges
- Limited Liquidity: Withdrawals par restrictions hone ki wajah se NPS ek less liquid option ban jata hai.
- Taxation on Annuity Income: Withdrawals ka kuch hissa tax-free hota hai, lekin annuity income taxable hoti hai.
- Market Risk: Returns market-linked hote hain, jo equity investments mein kuch risk lekar aate hain.
Conclusion
National Pension System (NPS) ek strong retirement savings option hai, jo flexibility, tax benefits, aur long-term growth potential ka combination offer karta hai. Tier I account long-term retirement planning ke liye best hai, jo aapko disciplined savings aur tax benefits deta hai, jabki Tier II account short-term financial goals ke liye best hai.
Read about NPS Vatslya Scheme