The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has launched NPS Central, a digital platform that allows National Pension System (NPS) subscribers to access and manage their accounts across three Central Recordkeeping Agencies (CRAs) through a single interface.
The platform, available at www.npscentral.in, was launched on October 1 on NPS Diwas and is jointly developed and managed by Protean, KFintech and CAMS, according to a PFRDA press release dated October 19.
Existing subscribers can log in using their registered mobile number and date of birth, verified through a one-time password (OTP), without having to remember their Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN). A consolidated dashboard allows them to view their NPS accounts and investment portfolios across the three CRAs.
Subscribers can use the platform to make contributions to existing schemes, explore new schemes, compare scheme features, returns and charges, update profile details, download account statements and track contributions made through different modes.
They can also access the Pension Sahayak portal through a link on the platform to raise grievances.
What can new NPS subscribers do?
People looking to join NPS can use the platform for onboarding, with Central KYC (CKYC) and DigiLocker available as know-your-customer (KYC) options. The platform also offers an AI-enabled assistant to answer queries and tools to compare investment schemes, review performance and select a Pension Fund.
After successful registration, subscribers receive an electronic PRAN (e-PRAN) and access to essential account services. PFRDA said onboarding charges on NPS Central are nil, subject to applicable terms and conditions.
NPS Swasthya and planned features
The platform also facilitates registration for NPS Swasthya, which combines a dedicated investment corpus with a super top-up health insurance arrangement.
PFRDA plans to expand NPS Central in phases, with proposed features including changes to investment choices and Pension Funds, loans against NPS, systematic investment plan (SIP) mandates, onboarding and maintenance of NPS Vatsalya accounts, corporate onboarding, re-KYC and services for NPS Tier II accounts.
The platform is also intended to integrate with other participants in the NPS ecosystem and existing digital channels, allowing them to offer NPS services through a unified interface. API specifications for such integration are being made available on the NPS Central website.
The launch brings the services of the three recordkeeping agencies onto a common interface. Further account management and subscriber servicing facilities are expected to be added as the platform expands.