What Is Annuity in NPS- Types, Rates, and NPS Annuity Rules 2026
Unlike many tax saving options and investment products, where the entire amount can be withdrawn at maturity, NPS withdrawal rules are different. At retirement, subscribers can withdraw a part of their corpus as a lump sum, but a minimum portion must be used to generate a lifelong pension. This mandatory pension component is known as an annuity in NPS.
In this blog, you will learn what an annuity in NPS means, the different NPS annuity plans available, and the withdrawal rules that apply when you exit the National Pension System.
What is Annuity in NPS?
An annuity in the National Pension System is the pension income you purchase from an insurance company using a portion of your retirement corpus when you exit the scheme.
When you turn 60 and decide to withdraw from NPS, the rules require that at least 40 percent of your total accumulated amount must be used to buy an annuity plan. The remaining 60 percent can be withdrawn as a lump sum, which is currently tax-free.
In simple terms, an annuity is the mechanism that converts your retirement savings into a regular income for life.
What Is the Annuity Rate in NPS?
The annuity rate is the annual return percentage that an ASP applies to your annuity corpus to calculate your monthly pension.
As of 2025, annuity rates under NPS typically range between 5.5% and 7.5% per annum, depending on the ASP, NPS annuity plan type, and your age at the time of purchase.
Annuity in NPS Example
Say Rohan retires at 60 with a total NPS corpus of Rs 75 lakh. The mandatory 40% goes toward an annuity, which is Rs 30 lakh. The remaining Rs 45 lakh is his tax-free lump sum.
He picks a life annuity with return of purchase price at 6.5% per annum.
Rs 30 lakh x 6.5% = Rs 1,95,000 per year, or roughly Rs 16,250 per month, guaranteed for life. After his death, the full Rs 30 lakh goes back to his nominee.
Had he chosen a plain life annuity without return of purchase price, the rate would be closer to 7% to 7.5%, meaning Rs 17,500 to Rs 18,750 per month. The tradeoff is that nothing goes back to the family.
Keep in mind, this pension is fully taxable. At a 10% slab, Rohan’s actual take-home from this annuity is around Rs 14,600 a month.
Know more about your take-home salary!
Types of Annuity in NPS
Below are the main types of NPS annuity plans-
1. Annuity for Life
This is the simplest option.
- You receive a pension for as long as you live.
- After your death, payments stop.
- No amount is returned to your nominee.
Since there is no return of principal, this option usually offers the highest monthly pension among all options.
2. Annuity for Life with Return of Purchase Price
This option balances income and legacy planning.
- You receive a pension for life.
- After your death, the original annuity amount, known as the purchase price, is returned to your nominee.
Because the insurer has to return the principal later, the monthly pension is lower than a pure life annuity.
3. Joint Life Annuity with 100 Percent to Spouse
This option ensures continued income for your spouse.
- You receive a pension for life.
- After your death, 100 percent of the pension continues to your spouse for their lifetime.
- After your spouse’s death, payments stop.
This is commonly chosen by retirees who want to financially secure their spouse.
4. Joint Life Annuity with 100 Percent to Spouse and Return of Purchase Price
This is a more comprehensive option.
- You receive pension for life.
- After your death, 100 percent of the pension continues to your spouse.
- After both of you pass away, the purchase price is returned to the nominee.
Since it combines spouse protection and return of capital, the pension amount is usually lower than the previous options.
5. NPS Family Income Option
This option extends financial support beyond the spouse.
- Pension is paid to you for life.
- After your death, it continues to your spouse.
- After your spouse’s death, it may continue to depend on parents, usually the mother first and then the father.
- After the last beneficiary passes away, the purchase price is returned to the nominee.
This option is suitable for families with financial dependents other than the spouse.
NPS Corpus and Withdrawal Rules in 2026
The term corpus in NPS refers to the total accumulated retirement savings in your NPS Tier I account at the time of exit, including contributions and investment returns.
The rules on how much of this corpus must go toward an annuity differ based on your subscriber category and corpus size.
Latest National Pension System Corpus and Withdrawal Rules
- NPS Corpus and Withdrawal Rule- Normal Exit at Age 60
- Up to 60 percent of the total corpus can be withdrawn as a lump sum
- The 60 percent lump sum is tax-free
- Minimum 40 percent must be used to purchase an annuity
- An annuity must be bought from an insurer regulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
- Annuity income is taxable as per your income tax slab
- If the total corpus is ₹5 lakh or less, 100 percent withdrawal is allowed
- Lump sum withdrawal can be deferred up to age 75
- Annuity purchase can also be deferred as per rules
- NPS Corpus and Withdrawal Rule- Partial Withdrawal Before Age 60
- Minimum 3 years of NPS membership required
- Up to 25 percent of your own contributions can be withdrawn
- Employer contributions are not included in the 25 percent limit
- Maximum 4 partial withdrawals allowed during entire tenure
- Permitted purposes only:
– Higher education of children
– Marriage of children
– Purchase or construction of first house
– Treatment of specified critical illnesses - Partial withdrawals are tax exempt
- NPS Corpus and Withdrawal Rule- Premature Exit Before Age 60
- 80 percent of corpus must be used to buy annuity
- Only 20 percent can be withdrawn as lump sum
- Tax treatment of the 20 percent depends on prevailing tax rules
- If total corpus is ₹2.5 lakh or less, full withdrawal is allowed
In Case of Death of Subscriber
- Nominee or legal heir can withdraw 100 percent of the corpus
- No mandatory annuity purchase requirement
Tax Summary
- 60 percent lump sum at age 60 is tax free
- Annuity income is taxable in the year of receipt
- Partial withdrawals are tax exempt
List of Annuity Service Providers in NPS (2026)
As of 2026, the following insurance companies are authorised to provide annuity services under NPS:
| S. No. | Annuity Service Provider |
| 1 | Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Limited |
| 2 | Axis Max Life Insurance Limited |
| 3 | Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited |
| 4 | Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited |
| 5 | Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance Company Limited |
| 6 | HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited |
| 7 | ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited |
| 8 | IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Limited |
| 9 | Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited |
| 10 | Life Insurance Corporation of India |
| 11 | Max Life Insurance Company Limited |
| 12 | PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited |
| 13 | SBI Life Insurance Company Limited |
| 14 | Shriram Life Insurance Company Limited |
| 15 | Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company Limited |
| 16 | Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited |
How to Choose the Right Annuity Plan
Choosing an annuity plan is less about chasing the highest rate and more about understanding what kind of income you want in retirement.
Here is a simple way to think about it.
1. When Do You Want Income to Start?
If you are retiring now, an immediate annuity starts paying soon after purchase.
If retirement is a few years away, a deferred annuity allows income to begin later.
2. Do You Prefer Stability or Market Linkage?
A fixed annuity gives a predictable income for life.
A market-linked or variable option may offer higher returns but comes with fluctuations.
3. Is Spouse Protection Important?
A life annuity pays only till your lifetime.
A joint life annuity continues income to your spouse after you.
4. Do You Want the Original Amount Returned?
Some plans return the purchase price to nominees after death.
These usually offer a lower monthly income compared to plans without a return of purchase price.
5. Think About Inflation
A fixed pension remains the same every year.
Some plans offer increasing payouts, but the starting income may be lower.
6. Compare Before Finalising
Check annuity rates across insurers.
Review payout frequency options.
Understand that the pension received is taxable.
The right annuity plan is simply the one that matches your income expectations, family priorities, and comfort with certainty.
How to Purchase an Annuity Under NPS
Below is the step-by-step process as followed in 2026.
Step 1: Initiate Exit Request
- Log in to your NPS account through the Central Recordkeeping Agency portal
- Select the exit option upon attaining age 60 or opting for premature exit
- Confirm your withdrawal details and corpus allocation
Step 2: Decide Annuity Allocation
- At least 40 percent of the total corpus must be used to purchase an annuity at age 60
- In case of premature exit, 80 percent must be used
- If the corpus is within the prescribed small account limit, a full withdrawal may be allowed
Step 3: Select Annuity Service Provider
- Choose from the empanelled Annuity Service Providers available on the portal
- Compare annuity rates, payout options, and conditions
- Review terms carefully because the decision is irreversible
Step 4: Choose NPS Annuity Plan Type
Select the annuity option based on your financial priorities, such as:
- Life annuity
- Joint life annuity with spouse continuation
- Return of purchase price option
- Increasing annuity option
Your choice will directly impact your monthly pension amount.
Step 5: Select Payout Frequency
You can choose how often you wish to receive a pension:
- Monthly
- Quarterly
- Half yearly
- Annually
Most retirees prefer monthly payouts for a regular income flow.
Step 6: Complete KYC and Documentation
- Provide required identity and address proof
- Submit bank details for pension credit
- Complete nominee details
- Confirm annuity purchase request
Step 7: Transfer of Funds to Insurer
- The designated portion of your corpus is transferred directly to the selected insurer
- The insurer issues the annuity policy document
- Pension payments begin as per the chosen frequency
Taxation of Annuity in NPS
In the National Pension System, the amount used to purchase an annuity is tax-free at the time of exit. However, the pension income received from that annuity is fully taxable as per your income tax slab in the year of receipt.
| Component | Tax Treatment |
| 60% Lump Sum Withdrawal at Age 60 | Completely tax-free under Section 10(12A) |
| 40% Used to Purchase Annuity | Tax exempt at the time of purchase under Section 80CCD(5) |
| Annuity Income (Pension Received) | Fully taxable as per the applicable income tax slab |
| Partial Withdrawals During Tenure | Tax exempt |
| Annuity Income After Premature Exit | Taxable as per the slab |
The regulatory framework is overseen by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority, and taxation is governed by the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Investment and Returns in NPS
The National Pension System is a market-linked retirement scheme. Your money is invested in a mix of equity, corporate bonds, government securities, and alternative assets.
Where Does NPS Invest?
- Equity (E) – Higher growth potential, higher volatility
- Corporate Bonds (C) – Moderate returns, moderate risk
- Government Securities (G) – Stable but lower returns
- Alternative Assets (A) – Limited allocation
You can choose:
- Active Choice – Decide your own asset allocation
- Auto Choice – Allocation adjusts automatically with age
Expected NPS Annuity Returns
- Historically, NPS equity schemes have delivered around 9 to 12 percent annually over the long term
- Debt components generally deliver relatively stable returns
- Returns are not guaranteed, as NPS is market linked
NPS balances growth and stability, making it suitable for long term retirement planning rather than short-term investing.
NPS Annuity Plans – FAQs
Annuity in NPS works by converting a mandatory portion of your retirement corpus into a fixed monthly pension for life. The corpus is transferred to a PFRDA empanelled insurer called an Annuity Service Provider, which pays you every month based on the amount allocated, the plan chosen, and the prevailing annuity rate.
The best annuity plan for most subscribers is the Life Annuity with Return of Purchase Price, chosen by around 69 percent of buyers. It pays a monthly pension for life and returns the full corpus to the nominee on death, balancing regular income with family protection.
The 40 percent annuity in NPS is the mandatory portion of the corpus that government sector subscribers must use to purchase a lifelong monthly pension at retirement. This amount is transferred directly to a PFRDA empanelled insurer and cannot be withdrawn as a lump sum.
NPS offers six types of annuity plans: life annuity without return of purchase price, life annuity with return of purchase price, joint life annuity with 100 percent pension to spouse, joint life with spouse continuation and return of purchase price, annuity for a certain period and life thereafter, and a family income option covering dependent parents.
Yes, you can buy 100 percent annuity in NPS since the rules set only a mandatory minimum, not a maximum. However, because annuity payouts are fixed for life with no inflation adjustment, allocating more than the mandatory minimum may reduce long term purchasing power.
To receive Rs 50,000 per month from an NPS annuity, you need a corpus of roughly Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1.09 crore, depending on the plan and provider. This estimate assumes prevailing annuity rates of 5.5 percent to 7.5 percent per annum.
The biggest disadvantage is that the monthly payout is fixed for life with no adjustment for inflation, steadily eroding purchasing power over a 20 to 25 year retirement. Once purchased, the annuity cannot be changed or cancelled after the free look period ends.
A Rs 10 lakh annuity in NPS will pay approximately Rs 4,583 to Rs 6,250 per month under a single life plan without return of purchase price, based on prevailing annuity rates of 5.5 percent to 7.5 percent per annum.
The 5 year rule states that a subscriber must complete at least five years of contributions before being eligible for premature exit. If exiting before age 60, 80 percent of the corpus must be used to purchase an annuity, with only 20 percent available as a lump sum withdrawal.
