Best National Pension Scheme (NPS Scheme) in 2022
Many NPS funds have beaten mutual fund schemes in the past. Investors are willing to explore National Pension Scheme (NPS) as part of their retirement planning which can also provide tax savings every year. There are several NPS fund managers in India. Selection of fund manager and scheme composition makes a big difference in the returns. Which is the Best National Pension Scheme (NPS) in 2022? Who is the best NPS fund manager in 2022?
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What is National Pension Scheme (NPS)?
NPS is the government approved investment cum pension scheme. NPS is regulated and administered by PFRDA. NPS can be opened by all the employees of public sector, private sector and even unorganized sector.
What are the different types of NPS accounts?
There are two types of NPS accounts:
Tier-1 Account: It is a basic pension account. There are T&C for withdrawals.
Before attaining 60 years of age, one can withdraw up to 25% of the contribution and balance 75% needs to be utilized to purchase a pension scheme.
After attaining 60 years of age, 60% of the contributions can be withdrawn and balance 40% needs to be invested in purchasing a pension scheme to get regular pension income.
Tier-II Account: It is voluntary option where the subscriber can withdraw 100% of the contribution.
Every NPS subscribe has to first open Tier-I account. If they choose to open Tier-II, they need to mandatorily open Tier-I before opening Tier-II.
Features of National Pension Scheme (NPS)
Here are the key feature of the NPS scheme.
NPS is investment cum pension scheme for employees across government and private sectors.
There are two types of NPS accounts – Tier-I and Tier-II.
Once registered, NPS subscribers need to contribute a minimum of Rs 500 and a minimum annual contribution of 6,000 in a financial year. In case of Tier-II the minimum amount is Rs 250 per contribution per financial year.
Under NPS, the contribution made by the NPS subscriber is invested in market linked instruments which includes equity and debt. The returns from the NPS funds depends on the performance of the underlying asset classes. The returns range between 9% to 11% in the long run.
Any Indian citizen in the age group of 18 years to 70 years can open NPS account.
NPS is regulated by PFRDA.
NPS gets matured at 60 years and can be extended to 75 years.
NPS subscribers can make partial withdrawals up to 25% after 3 years of opening the account on special conditions like purchasing a home, sponsoring a child’s education or for treatment of any critical illnesses.
One can do a partial withdrawal for 3 times within 5 years of intervals in the entire NPS tenure.
Contributions made in NPS Tier-I up to 10% of the salary (20% of gross income in case of self employed) can be claimed as tax benefit u/s 80c up to Rs 1.5 Lakhs and another 50,000 u/s 80CCD (1B). No income tax exemptions available for contributions made in NPS Tier-II.
One cannot withdraw 100% after retirement. They can withdraw 60% of the total corpus and the balance of 40% is invested in the pension scheme to receive regular pension.
What are various types of funds in National Pension Scheme in India?
Below are the various types of funds
1) Scheme E – Investment in Equity
2) Scheme C – Investment in Corporate Bonds, which includes bonds of a government company, PSUs and other private sector companies
3) Scheme G – Bonds issued by Central Government
4) Scheme A – Alternative investment fund or AIF which also includes InvITs, REITs etc.
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List of NPS Fund Managers in India
Currently there are 7 fund managers offering NPS in India. Out of them only 3 are offering for Government sector companies.
A) Pension Funds for Government Sector
- LIC Pension Fund
- SBI Pension Fund
- UTI Retirement Solutions
B) Pension Funds for Private Sector
- LIC Pension Fund
- SBI Pension Fund
- UTI Retirement Solutions
- HDFC Pension Fund
- ICICI Pension Fund
- Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund
- Aditya Birla Sun Life Pension Fund
Best National Pension Scheme (NPS Scheme) in 2022
Let us check the NPS scheme returns in the last 1 to 10 years and find out who is the Best NPS fund manager in 2022.
1) Tier-I – Scheme E (Equity)
Here are the NPS returns in the last 1 to 10 years. Since 3 NPS fund managers have NPS schemes in < 10 year history, let us compare them with 3 to 5 years annualized returns.
| Pension Fund | 1 Yr | 3 Yr | 5 Yr | 10 Yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Pension Fund | 15% | 19% | 15% | NA |
| Kotak Mahindra Pension | 17% | 18% | 15% | 13% |
| ICICI Pru. Pension Fund | 16% | 18% | 14% | 13% |
| UTI Retirement Solutionns | 16% | 17% | 14% | 13% |
| SBI Pension Fund | 15% | 16% | 14% | 13% |
| LIC Pension | 18% | 17% | 13% | NA |
If you observe, HDFC, Kotak Mahindra and ICICI Pru Pension Funds have beaten its peers in 3 to 5 years returns.
2) Tier-I – Scheme C (Corporate Bonds)
Here are the NPS returns in the last 1 to 10 years. Since 3 NPS fund managers have NPS schemes in < 10 year history, let us compare them with 3 to 5 years annualized returns.
| Pension Fund | 1 Yr | 3 Yr | 5 Yr | 10 Yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Pension | 7% | 10% | 9% | NA |
| SBI Pension Fund | 6% | 10% | 8% | 10% |
| ICICI Pru. Pension Fund | 6% | 10% | 8% | 10% |
| LIC Pension | 6% | 10% | 8% | NA |
| UTI Retirement Solutionns | 6% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| Kotak Mahindra Pension | 6% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Pension | 7% | 10% | NA | NA |
If you observe, HDFC, SBI and ICICI Prudential Pension Fund have beaten its peers in 3 to 5 years returns.
3) Tier-I – Scheme G (Government Bonds)
Here are the NPS returns in the last 1 to 10 years. Since 3 NPS fund managers have NPS schemes in < 10 year history, let us compare them with 3 to 5 years annualized returns.
| Pension Fund | 1 Yr | 3 Yr | 5 Yr | 10 Yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIC Pension | 4% | 10% | 9% | NA |
| HDFC Pension | 3% | 9% | 8% | NA |
| SBI Pension Fund | 4% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| Kotak Mahindra Pension | 4% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| ICICI Pru. Pension Fund | 4% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| UTI Retirement Solutionns | 3% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Pension | 4% | 9% | NA | NA |
If you observe, LIC Pension Fund, HDFC Pension Fund and SBI Pension Fund have beaten its peers in 3 to 5 years returns.
4) Tier-II – Scheme E (Equity)
Here are the NPS returns in the last 1 to 10 years. Since 3 NPS fund managers have NPS schemes in < 10 year history, let us compare them with 3 to 5 years annualized returns.
| Pension Fund | 1 Yr | 3 Yr | 5 Yr | 10 Yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Pension | 15% | 18% | 15% | NA |
| UTI Retirement Solutionns | 15% | 17% | 14% | 13% |
| Kotak Mahindra Pension | 17% | 18% | 14% | 13% |
| ICICI Pru. Pension Fund | 16% | 18% | 14% | 13% |
| SBI Pension Fund | 14% | 16% | 14% | 13% |
| LIC Pension | 18% | 17% | 13% | NA |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Pension | 14% | 17% | NA | NA |
If you observe, HDFC, UTI and the Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund have beaten its peers in 3 to 5 years returns.
5) Tier-II – Scheme C (Corporate Bonds)
Here are the NPS returns in the last 1 to 10 years. Since 3 NPS fund managers have NPS schemes in < 10 year history, let us compare them with 3 to 5 years annualized returns.
| Pension Fund | 1 Yr | 3 Yr | 5 Yr | 10 Yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Pension | 7% | 10% | 9% | NA |
| LIC Pension | 6% | 11% | 8% | NA |
| ICICI Pru. Pension Fund | 6% | 10% | 8% | 10% |
| SBI Pension Fund | 5% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| UTI Retirement Solutionns | 6% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| Kotak Mahindra Pension | 6% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Pension | 7% | 10% | NA | NA |
If you observe, HDFC, LIC and ICICI Pru Pension Fund have beaten its peers in 3 to 5 years returns.
6) Tier-II – Scheme G (Government Bonds)
Here are the NPS returns in the last 1 to 10 years. Since 3 NPS fund managers have NPS schemes in < 10 year history, let us compare them with 3 to 5 years annualized returns.
| Pension Fund | 1 Yr | 3 Yr | 5 Yr | 10 Yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIC Pension | 4% | 10% | 9% | NA |
| HDFC Pension | 4% | 9% | 8% | NA |
| ICICI Pru. Pension Fund | 4% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| SBI Pension Fund | 4% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| Kotak Mahindra Pension | 4% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| UTI Retirement Solutionns | 4% | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Pension | 4% | 9% | NA | NA |
If you observe, LIC Pension Fund, HDFC Pension Fund and ICICI Pension Fund have beaten its peers in 3 to 5 years returns.
7) NPS – Central Government Plan
Here are the NPS returns in the last 1 to 10 years.
| Pension Fund | 1 Yr | 3 Yr | 5 Yr | 10 Yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTI Retirement Solutionns | 6% | 10% | 9% | 10% |
| SBI Pension Fund | 6% | 10% | 9% | 10% |
| LIC Pension | 7% | 10% | 9% | 10% |
If you observe almost all 3 NPS fund managers have performed in a similar way where returns ranging between 8.9% to 10.4% in the last 3 to 10 years.
8) NPS – State Government Plan
Here are the NPS returns in the last 1 to 10 years.
| Pension Fund | 1 Yr | 3 Yr | 5 Yr | 10 Yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTI Retirement Solutions | 6% | 10% | 9% | 10% |
| SBI Pension Fund | 6% | 10% | 9% | 10% |
| LIC Pension | 7% | 10% | 9% | 10% |
If you observe almost all 3 NPS pension fund managers have performed in a similar way where returns ranging between 8.8% to 10.3% in the last 3 to 10 years.
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Which is the best NPS Scheme or NPS Fund Manager in India?
After going through all the above, you might be wondering who is the best NPS fund manager to invest in an NPS scheme in 2022.
For State and Central Government plans, there are only 3 NPS fund managers. Almost all the 3 fund managers i.e. UTI Pension Fund, LIC Pension Fund and SBI Pension Fund have almost similar performance. Subscribers can consider any of the NPS schemes.
For private sector employees, considering equity, corporate bond and government bond schemes performance, HDFC Pension Fund tops the performance followed by ICICI Prudential Pension Fund.
Source: NPS Returns Performance 2022
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Hi Suresh
Which NPS scheme have you invested in ? pls share if you don’t mind
Hello Nanmith, I have invested in HDFC Pension Fund NPS scheme.
Thanks sir. Suppose I invest only 50k per year in NPS tier 1. Assuming I already have utilised 1.5 lakhs in 80C bucket with other investments, now this 50k NPS would fall into 80ccd(1b)?kindly answer
Yes. In total you would get tax benefit of Rs 1.5 Lacs + 50K = Rs 2 Lacs