Government has allowed premature withdrawal from New Pension Scheme Fund. A subscriber is eligible for three partial withdrawals during the period of subscription under National Pension System (NPS), each withdrawal not exceeding twenty-five percent of the contributions made by the subscriber and excluding contributions made by the employer. There is, however, no restriction on withdrawals from the Tier-II account of the subscriber. Further, keeping in view the possibility of sudden financial needs of the subscribers, the requirement of minimum period under National Pension System (NPS) for availing the facility of partial withdrawal from the mandatory Tier-I account of the subscriber has been reduced from 10 years to 3 years from the date of joining w.e.f. 10th August, 2017. The minimum gap of 5 years between two partial withdrawals has also been removed w.e.f. 10th August, 2017.

On 06.12.2018, Government has approved the following proposals pertaining to choice of Pension Fund and investment pattern for Central Government subscribers under NPS:

• Choice of Pension Fund: Central Government subscribers will be allowed to choose any one of the pension funds including Private sector pension funds.They could change their option once in a year. However, the current provision of combination of the Public-Sector Pension Funds will be available as the default option for both existing as well as new Government subscribers.
• Choice of Investment Pattern: The following options for investment choices will be offered to Central Government employees:
  • Government employees who prefer a fixed return with minimum amount of risk may be given an option to invest 100% of the funds in Government securities (Scheme G).
  • Government employees who prefer higher returns may be given the options of the following two Life Cycle based schemes.
  • Conservative Life Cycle Fund with maximum exposure to equity capped at 25% at the age of 35 years and tapering off thereafter (LC-25).
  • Moderate Life Cycle Fund with maximum exposure to equity capped at 50% at the age of 35 years and tapering off thereafter (LC-50).

In case an employee does not submit any choice, the existing allocation of funds shall continue as the default option.

This was stated by Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Minister of State for Finance in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Partial withdrawal rights under NPS: limited withdrawals allowed, reduced eligibility period and removed inter withdrawal gap. NPS subscribers may make up to three partial withdrawals from Tier I, each capped at twenty five percent of subscriber contributions (excluding employer contributions); the minimum tenure for partial withdrawal is reduced to three years and the minimum inter withdrawal gap is removed. Tier II withdrawals remain unrestricted. Central Government subscribers gain the right to choose any pension fund, change annually, and select among a government securities scheme or two life cycle funds with specified maximum equity caps; default public sector fund combinations apply if no choice is made.