Open NPS Account Online: 2026 eNPS Registration Guide

What is the National Pension System?

The National Pension System (NPS) is a defined-contribution retirement system regulated by PFRDA. Under the All Citizen Model, eligible individuals can voluntarily build a retirement corpus through an individual pension account. Returns are market-linked and depend on contributions, investment choices and performance.

Who can open an NPS account?

For the PFRDA All Citizen Model, an Indian citizen (resident or non-resident) or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) may voluntarily subscribe if the current age and KYC requirements are satisfied. PFRDA's current All Citizen Model page states an age range of 18 to 85 years.

Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) are not eligible to subscribe under the All Citizen Model. NPS is an individual account and cannot be opened on behalf of another adult person.

Tier I and Tier II NPS accounts

Documents and information normally required

The exact fields depend on your applicant category and KYC route. Keep the following ready before starting:

• PAN and date of birth details.
• Mobile number and email address.
• Recent photograph, where the selected KYC route requires it.
• Proof of address and identity as required by the CRA/KYC method.
• Bank-account details and proof/online verification where applicable.
• Aadhaar-linked mobile number if using Aadhaar OTP/eKYC.
• Nominee information.
• Signature or eSign/digital authentication, depending on the onboarding route.

For NRIs and OCIs, additional passport/OCI and NRE/NRO bank-account requirements may apply under current PFRDA rules.

How to open an NPS account online in 2026

1. Start with the official NPS Trust account-opening page

   NPS Trust advises applicants to open an account through the eNPS portal of a CRA of their choice. Use the official NPS Trust page to avoid unofficial intermediaries or outdated registration URLs.

2. Choose a Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA)

   Select an authorised CRA eNPS platform. Registration interfaces and available KYC options may differ between CRAs.

3. Select the correct subscriber category

   Choose the category shown by the CRA, such as individual, government, corporate, NRI or OCI, as applicable. Government and corporate subscribers may also need to follow their employer or nodal-office process.

4. Complete KYC

   Use a permitted KYC option offered by the CRA, which may include Aadhaar-based eKYC, PAN-based KYC, DigiLocker or another authorised method.

5. Enter personal and contact details

   Provide your name, date of birth, contact details, address and other mandatory subscriber information exactly as required by the KYC records.

6. Add bank and nominee details

   Enter your bank information and nomination details. Complete online bank verification if the CRA requires it.

7. Choose pension fund and investment option

   Select the pension fund and investment choice available to you. NPS offers active and auto-choice options, and PFRDA has also introduced a Multiple Scheme Framework for eligible non-government subscribers.

8. Choose Tier I and, if eligible, Tier II

   Tier I is the core pension account. Tier II is optional and is available only where permitted under current NPS rules.

9. Make the initial contribution

   Pay the amount required by the selected account-opening flow through the available payment method. Minimum contribution requirements can change, so rely on the amount displayed by the official CRA portal at the time of registration.

10. Complete digital authentication

    Finish the onboarding using OTP, eSign or another authentication method made available by the CRA. Do not assume that a printed form must be couriered after every online registration.

11. Save the acknowledgement and PRAN details

    Keep the registration acknowledgement safely. Once allotted, your Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) is used to access and manage your NPS account.

NPS tax law: important 2026 update

From 1 April 2026, the Income-tax Act, 1961 was repealed for tax years beginning on or after that date and the Income-tax Act, 2025 applies. Older NPS articles commonly refer to sections 80CCD(1), 80CCD(1B) and 80CCD(2) of the 1961 Act; for Tax Year 2026-27 and later, users should refer to the corresponding provisions and schedules of the Income-tax Act, 2025 and the tax regime applicable to them.

The Income Tax Department states that deductions corresponding to old section 80C are now referenced through Schedule XV read with section 123, and its notified 2026 forms separately reference sections 123 and 124. Because NPS deductions vary by taxpayer category, employer contribution and chosen tax regime, verify the current provision before claiming a deduction.

How to contribute after opening the account

Subscribers can make subsequent contributions through their CRA account, authorised Points of Presence, the NPS mobile facilities or other permitted modes. PFRDA also recognises D-Remit, which uses a virtual account linked to the PRAN for eligible contributions.

There is generally no overall cap on how much may be contributed to NPS, although tax deductions are subject to separate statutory limits and conditions.