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If you already pay into NPS online, the natural question is: does the revised PoP fee apply to you? The answer starts with how your account was opened, not which payment screen you used last month.
This guide to NPS charges 2026 includes a route checker and a calculator. Use them to understand the likely charge before deciding whether anything in your retirement plan needs to change.
Who pays the 0.20% NPS PoP charge from 1 October 2026, and does using e-NPS avoid it?
From 1 October 2026, applicable PoP-serviced NPS accounts carry a ₹200 onboarding charge and an annual charge of 0.20% of AUM; dormant accounts are exempt. Subscribers originally onboarded through e-NPS and contributing through e-NPS or D-Remit are exempt from PoP charges. Moving contributions online later does not remove the charge if the NPS account was originally opened through a PoP.
The onboarding amount is a one-time charge, not a fresh annual charge for every existing subscriber. Some fully digital PoP onboarding may qualify for a reduced amount, explained below. The exemption above concerns PoP charges, not every cost within NPS. PFRDA's official charge circular, 28 August 2026.
What changes from 1 October?
PFRDA describes a revised charge structure. The August circular supersedes the March framework from 1 October; describing 0.20% as a completely new fee would miss that history.
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Standard onboarding charge | ₹200 per PRAN, once; not an annual levy |
| Annual PoP charge | 0.20% of applicable AUM, rather than 0.20% of that year's contribution |
| Dormant accounts | No annual charge while the stated dormancy condition holds |
| Original e-NPS onboarding | Exemption when subsequent contributions use e-NPS or D-Remit |
| Original PoP onboarding | Later e-NPS or D-Remit payments do not remove liability |
Additional details in the circular: qualifying fully digital, non-face-to-face PoP onboarding may cost ₹100, subject to PFRDA's determination. Taxes are additional. Annual fees are adjusted through NAV and paid quarterly; CRA implementation starts in Q3 FY 2026-27. Special 4A schemes have their own charge guidelines.
Check the displayed schedule for your scheme, particularly for government or employer-linked arrangements. This guide's calculator is not intended to establish the treatment of every NPS account type.
Who pays the annual 0.20% PoP charge?
A PoP, or Point of Presence, is the intermediary through which an NPS account may be opened and serviced. Do not confuse it with the pension fund that invests the money, or the CRA that maintains account records.
For an active account within the applicable structure, use this route checker:
| Original onboarding route | Current payment method | PoP position under the circular |
|---|---|---|
| e-NPS | e-NPS | Exempt |
| e-NPS | D-Remit | Exempt |
| PoP | PoP | Applicable |
| PoP | e-NPS | Applicable |
| PoP | D-Remit | Applicable |
| CRA-confirmed dormant account | No resumed contributions | No annual charge while dormant |
| Unknown | Any route | Verify original onboarding |
| e-NPS | PoP or uncertain route | Do not assume exemption; verify with the CRA |
The final two rows are deliberately cautious. An incomplete account history is not enough to establish an exemption.
Who is exempt?
The direct e-NPS exemption needs both parts: original e-NPS onboarding and subsequent contributions through e-NPS or D-Remit. A bank or distributor's online NPS form may still represent PoP onboarding.
For dormancy, the circular looks at accounts linked by a unique PAN across CRAs, with no contribution for four consecutive quarters after a contribution quarter, assessed at quarter-end. Ask the CRA to confirm status; an unused login is not proof.
Stopping retirement contributions just to avoid a fee is a separate financial decision. Compare the amount saved with the contribution you would be giving up, and check whether resuming payments changes the charge.
I contribute through D-Remit. Does that mean I am exempt?
No. D-Remit is a contribution route; it does not establish how the account was originally opened.
Consider two people with ₹25 lakh in NPS who both use D-Remit. One opened the account directly through e-NPS. The other opened it through a PoP and later changed payment method. Their current payment experience may look similar, but their PoP charge position differs under the circular.
For the NPS 0.20% PoP charge, e-NPS payments alone are not enough. Verify the original account route before treating an online contribution as fee-exempt.
How can I check whether my PRAN was opened through e-NPS or a PoP?
Start with records you already have:
- Find the account-opening acknowledgement, welcome email or original application. Look for the onboarding channel and any PoP or PoP-SP name or code.
- Check your CRA account profile and transaction statements for intermediary details. A current association may not establish the original route if the account has moved.
- Ask your CRA or servicing PoP for written confirmation of the original onboarding route and the applicable charge schedule.
- For an employer-linked account, ask HR or the pension administrator to confirm the account's sector and servicing arrangement.
- Compare the answer with the schedule shown by the PoP. Keep the confirmation with your retirement records.
You can ask: “Was my PRAN originally onboarded directly through e-NPS or through a PoP? Given my current contribution method, does the August 2026 PoP charge structure apply?”
Use the institution's official support channel. You do not need to enter PAN or PRAN into the calculator below.
NPS PoP Cost Calculator
Estimate the annual charge at your current corpus and compare longer-term fee scenarios. Choose “I need to check” if the original route is uncertain.
CHECK YOUR ROUTE. ESTIMATE YOUR COST.
Enter approximate figures. No PAN, PRAN or contact details are needed. These inputs stay in your browser.
Not yet determined
Estimated annual PoP charge at your current AUM, before taxes, under the structure effective 1 October 2026.
At 0.20%, this AUM would imply ₹5,000 a year if the charge applies. This is a conditional figure, not a bill. Check the original onboarding record and scheme rules with your CRA.
Long-term figures are withheld until the future charging position is clear. For a dormant account, enter planned contributions and confirm the original route to illustrate resuming investment.
How this estimate works
Current annual cost = current AUM × 0.002 when applicable. For each illustrated year, we add the annual contribution, apply the selected growth rate, then deduct 0.20% from that year-end value. We compare this with the same scenario without the PoP charge.
This simplified annual calculation is not the actual NAV accrual or quarterly settlement process. It excludes onboarding charges, GST and other taxes, other NPS fees, withdrawals and changes to rules or account status. The return is an editable assumption, not a forecast. Figures beyond your chosen retirement horizon are comparison scenarios, not a recommendation to continue contributions.
What does 0.20% mean on ₹5 lakh, ₹25 lakh and ₹1 crore?
The quick estimate is AUM × 0.002.
| Assumed constant NPS AUM | Approximate annual PoP charge, before taxes |
|---|---|
| ₹5 lakh | ₹1,000 |
| ₹25 lakh | ₹5,000 |
| ₹1 crore | ₹20,000 |
These are arithmetic examples, not quotes from a CRA. Actual deductions depend on the applicable AUM over time and the collection process. If the corpus changes with contributions or investment returns, the rupee charge changes too.
For a deliberately simple comparison, ₹25 lakh held constant would imply ₹50,000 over ten years at 0.20%, before taxes. That assumes no growth, no additional investment and no reduction in the stated fee base. The calculator instead models a changing corpus and fee deductions, so its results need not equal this shortcut.
Also distinguish fees paid from the difference in final corpus. A fee deducted early can reduce the amount left to earn future returns. The calculator shows both measures without presenting either as a forecast.
What else changed in NPS scheme classification?
A separate PFRDA scheme-classification circular groups options into Lifecycle, Active Choice, NPS Sanchay, MSF and 4A schemes. Government-tagged accounts are excluded from that classification circular.
MSF equity mandates are grouped as follows:
| Category | Equity exposure |
|---|---|
| A: Aggressive Growth | 80–100% |
| B: High Growth | 60–80% |
| C: Balanced Growth | 35–60% |
| D: Conservative | 10–35% |
| E: Debt | 0–10% |
Lifecycle options adjust allocation with age. Active Choice leaves allocation decisions with the subscriber, within applicable limits. The prescribed selection sequence is scheme type, category or allocation, then pension fund.
Read the current scheme documents when choosing. A category label alone does not tell you whether a scheme fits your retirement horizon, existing equity exposure or ability to tolerate losses.
The accompanying operational circular requires MSF schemes to disclose a Risk-o-meter and Scheme Essentials document, including allocation, vesting and fees. It also provides transition deadlines for renaming and restructuring. Avoid assuming all changes share the PoP fee's 1 October start date.
Should a fee change make you exit NPS?
A fee is a reason to review the plan. It is not enough information to decide on an exit.
First establish whether you pay it. Then compare the full cost, any relevant employer contribution, applicable tax treatment, investment options and access conditions. An exit may have consequences that matter more than one year's PoP fee.
Ask yourself:
- What retirement purpose does this account serve?
- How much equity and debt do I already hold outside NPS?
- When will I need access to the money?
- Am I comparing total costs on a like-for-like basis?
- Would changing the scheme or reviewing service arrangements address the issue?
Use our Retirement Planning in India guide to connect the account with future expenses and the rest of your retirement assets. A sensible decision should fit that plan.
NPS vs EPF vs mutual funds: each has a different retirement role
Avoid comparing a pension account with a single mutual fund on recent returns alone. Begin with the job each holding needs to do.
| Holding | Role to assess in your plan | Question to answer |
|---|---|---|
| NPS | Dedicated retirement accumulation with scheme and exit conditions | Does the allocation and access structure fit my retirement needs? |
| EPF | Employment-linked retirement savings | How much is already building through payroll? |
| Mutual funds | Investments that can be assigned to retirement or other goals | Which fund category, risk level and access conditions fit each goal? |
If employment-linked savings already provide a substantial stability allocation, that should inform how you assess market-linked holdings elsewhere. If you need money before retirement, consider that liquidity need separately from the long-term pension goal.
Next, use a portfolio review to identify overlap and a rebalancing framework to keep the overall mix aligned. You can also download Genvest to review supported investments as part of your wider financial picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 0.20% charge on contributions or total AUM?
It is an annual AUM-based PoP charge. It is not simply 0.20% of the new contribution. Use the corpus examples above for a quick estimate.
Is GST additional?
Yes, applicable GST or other taxes are additional under the circular. The calculator excludes them; confirm your actual tax treatment and charged amount with the service provider.
Does the charge apply every year?
The quoted rate is annual and applies while the account is chargeable under the relevant rules. Do not mistake quarterly settlement for a 0.20% charge each quarter.
What qualifies as a dormant account?
See the dormancy definition above and obtain CRA confirmation across your PAN-linked accounts. Simply not contributing this month does not establish dormancy.
Can I switch PoPs?
Ask your CRA about the servicing-change process available for your account and sector. Confirm the result in writing before relying on it: changing PoPs should not be assumed to convert an originally PoP-opened account into an e-NPS-origin account.
Does online onboarding automatically mean e-NPS?
No. A PoP can offer a digital account-opening journey. Check who originally onboarded the account, rather than whether the form was completed online.
Is NPS still worth using after the revised charges?
That depends on your retirement plan and the full account terms. Establish the actual fee first, then compare allocation, access, employer contributions and applicable taxes. A single charge cannot settle the decision.
Should I choose Active Choice or Lifecycle allocation?
Lifecycle allocation may suit someone who wants an age-based adjustment path. Active Choice requires deliberate allocation decisions and review. Compare both with your total portfolio and retirement timeline; neither label guarantees an appropriate outcome.
Can I avoid PoP charges by changing to D-Remit?
Changing payment method alone does not remove liability for an account originally opened through a PoP. For original e-NPS subscribers, the exemption covers subsequent e-NPS or D-Remit contributions.
Source notes
Checked on 9 September 2026 against PFRDA circulars 46/REG-POP/08, 47/REG-PF/10 and 48/REG-PF/11, all dated 28 August 2026, linked above. The rules are presented ahead of the PoP structure's 1 October effective date. Calculations and account-checking steps are Genvest's illustrations.
Educational content. Account-specific charges and eligibility should be confirmed with your CRA or PoP; investment decisions should reflect your own retirement needs.