Rationalization of Nomenclature of Auto Choice / Life Cycle Funds under the NPS Multiple Choices of Investment under Common Schemes

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CIRCULAR PFRDA/2025/16/Reg-PF/02 17th October 2025 To: All NPS Stakeholders Subject: Rationalization of Nomenclature of Auto Choice / Life Cycle Funds under the NPS & Multiple Choices of Investment under Common Schemes PFRDA has undertaken a comprehensive review of the existing nomenclature based on the asset allocation & age wise tapering pattern of Auto Choice / Life Cycle (LC) Funds under the NPS. The Balanced Life Cycle Fund (BLC) exhibits a relatively higher equity allocation at the age milestones of 45 and 55 years as compared to the LC 75 Fund, which is currently categorized as an Aggressive Life Cycle Fund under Auto Choice. To ensure the alignment of fund nomenclature with their respective risk–return profiles, and to enhance transparency, simplicity and uniformity, it has been decided to incorporate the BLC within the Auto Choice category and rationalize the names across Auto Choice of investment. The revised nomenclature of the life cycle funds under Auto Choice is enclosed at the Annexure I and the asset tapering matrix of various life cycle funds is provided at Annexure II for the information of stakeholders. Further, it may be noted that as per PFRDA Circular No PFRDA/2025/09/REG-PF/01 dated 16th September 2025, the existing investment options under NPS viz Auto Choice and Active Choice shall henceforth be referred to as Common Schemes (CS). Under the Multiple Scheme Framework (MSF), the subscribers will have the flexibility to invest across multiple schemes of one or more Pension Funds (PFs) and also to choose multiple Common Schemes with one or more PFs in Tier I and Tier II. In the former, the subscribers do not allocate their contribution across Asset classes since the asset allocation is predefined by the respective PF whereas in the latter, subscribers earmark their contribution across the asset classes under the chosen PF. As per the existing guidelines, the subscribers have the option to have either Active or Auto Choice of investment in Tier I and II with any one of the CRAs. However, post development of the enhanced functionalities by CRAs as per the revised guidelines, the Subscribers shall be having the options of investing in multiple investment accounts under their PRAN and open multiple PRANs with different CRAs (Refer Annexure III). Hence each of these account under PRAN of a CRA shall represent A. One or more schemes designed and operated by PFs B. One or more common schemes (Active and Auto Choices) Each of the account under the PRAN shall be subjected to the exit and withdrawal guidelines issued by PFRDA at the time of exit. All NPS intermediaries have to ensure that the revised nomenclature is updated and reflected across all public-facing interfaces, including websites, subscriber portals, and mobile applications at the earliest. Yours faithfully, Chief General Manager Encl.: A/a K MOHAN GANDHI Digitally signed by K MOHAN GANDHI Annexure I Annexure II (Earlier Name – LC 25 Conservative Life Cycle Fund) 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 45 43 41 39 37 35 33 31 29 27 25 23 21 19 17 15 13 11 9 7 5 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69 72 75 78 81 84 87 90 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Asset allocation (in %) Age (in years) Life Cycle 25 - Low (5E/55Y) E C G E- Equity C- Corporate Bonds G – Govt Securities (Earlier Name – LC 50 Moderate Life Cycle Fund) 50 48 46 44 42 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 20 23 26 29 32 35 38 41 44 47 50 53 56 59 62 65 68 71 74 77 80 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Asset allocation (in %) Age (in years) Life Cycle 50 - Moderate (10E/55Y) E C G 75 71 67 63 59 55 51 47 43 39 35 32 29 26 23 20 19 18 17 16 15 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 18 16 14 12 10 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69 72 75 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Asset allocation (in %) Age (in years) Life Cycle 75 - High (15E/55Y) E C G (Earlier Name – LC 75 Aggressive Life Cycle Fund) 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 48 46 44 42 40 39 38 37 36 35 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 24 28 32 36 40 43 46 49 52 55 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Asset allocation (in %) Age (in years) Life Cycle - Aggressive (35E/55Y) E C G (Earlier Name – Balanced Life Cycle Fund) Annexure III