NPS, UPS and Atal Pension Yojana Fees to Change from Oct 1: New Charges Explained

Written by: Kusum KumariUpdated on: 19 Sept 2025, 2:36 pm IST

From Oct 1, PFRDA revises charges for NPS, UPS, and APY. New fee structure includes lower PRAN costs, slab-based maintenance fees, and no transaction charges.

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has announced a revised fee structure for Central Recordkeeping Agencies (CRAs). These changes apply to the National Pension System (NPS), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), NPS-Lite, and Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). They replace the old rules issued in June 2020.

Government Sector (NPS and UPS)

PRAN opening: ₹18 (e-PRAN kit), ₹40 (physical card)
Annual maintenance: ₹100 per account (zero-balance accounts exempt)
Transaction charge: Nil

APY and NPS-Lite

PRAN opening: ₹15
Annual maintenance: ₹15
Transaction charge: Nil

Private Sector (NPS and NPS Vatsalya)

PRAN opening: ₹18 (e-PRAN kit), ₹40 (physical card)
Transaction charge: Nil

Annual Maintenance (slab-based, Tier I corpus):

Nil balance: Nil
₹1 – ₹2 lakh: ₹100
₹2,00,001 – ₹10 lakh: ₹150
₹10,00,001 – ₹25 lakh: ₹300
₹25,00,001 – ₹50 lakh: ₹400
Above ₹50 lakh: ₹500

Key Guidelines

Charges are upper limits; CRAs can charge less.
For government UPS, fees apply only during the accumulation phase.
Any new services will be charged at actual cost with PFRDA approval.
CRAs must display charges clearly on websites and apps.

Conclusion

The revised fee structure aims to keep pension schemes cost-effective while ensuring transparency. With no transaction charges and simplified slabs, the move supports wider participation in retirement planning.

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.

Investments in securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

Published on: Sep 19, 2025, 9:06 AM IST

Kusum Kumari

Kusum Kumari is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience in simplifying financial market concepts. Currently crafting insightful content at Angel One, She specialise in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand pieces, blending expertise in market fundamentals and technical analysis.

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