How much pension will I get from NPS?
Your NPS pension depends on the corpus you build and the share you use to buy an annuity. At normal exit, government sector subscribers must use at least 40% of the corpus for an annuity and other subscribers at least 20%; the rest can be taken as a lump sum. The monthly pension is roughly the annuity amount × the annuity rate ÷ 12. FixDoks's NPS Calculator estimates the corpus from your contribution, expected return and age, then shows the split and pension. All figures are estimates.
NPS Calculator at a glance
| Inputs | Monthly contribution, age, exit age, expected return, annuity share and rate |
|---|---|
| Output | Estimated corpus, lump sum, annuity amount and monthly pension |
| Rules | PFRDA exit regulations as amended to July 2026 |
| Processing | In your browser; your files are not uploaded |
| Price | Free |
| Works on | Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone |
How to use NPS Calculator
- Enter your monthly contribution, including your employer's share if you have one.
- Enter your age now and your exit age, usually 60.
- Set an expected return. Try a few values, because NPS returns are not guaranteed.
- Choose your sector, the annuity share and an expected annuity rate, then read the estimated corpus, lump sum and monthly pension.
How NPS turns into a pension
The National Pension System (NPS) is a market-linked retirement scheme regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). You build a corpus by contributing regularly. When you exit, part of the corpus must be used to buy an annuity from an insurance company, which pays you a pension for life. The rest can be taken as a lump sum or as regular withdrawals.
Minimum annuity at exit
The share you must put into an annuity depends on your sector, under the PFRDA exit regulations as amended up to July 2026:
| Subscriber | Minimum annuity at normal exit | Maximum lump sum |
|---|---|---|
| Government sector (central and state government employees) | 40% of the corpus | 60% |
| Non-government sector (All Citizen model and corporate) | 20% of the corpus | 80% |
For non-government subscribers, normal exit means reaching 60, retiring, or completing 15 years in NPS. You can choose a bigger annuity share than the minimum if you want a higher pension. Smaller balances have extra options:
- Corpus of ₹8 lakh or less: you may withdraw the whole amount, with no annuity.
- Above ₹8 lakh and up to ₹12 lakh: you may take up to ₹6 lakh as a lump sum, and the rest goes into an annuity or a systematic unit redemption spread over at least six years.
- Staying invested: you can defer the annuity or the lump sum and remain in NPS up to age 85.
Leaving before 60 (premature exit) has stricter rules, with a much larger compulsory annuity share. This calculator covers normal exit only.
How the estimate is worked out
- Corpus: each monthly contribution is added at the start of the month and grows at the monthly equivalent of the yearly return you enter, until your exit age. An optional yearly increase raises the contribution once a year.
- Annuity and lump sum: the corpus is split by the annuity share you choose, never below your sector's minimum.
- Monthly pension: annuity amount × annuity rate ÷ 12. This assumes a simple life annuity. Annuities that return the purchase price to your family, or cover your spouse, pay a lower rate.
Worked example
You are 30, contribute ₹5,000 a month until 60 and assume a 10% yearly return. The estimated corpus is about ₹1.04 crore on ₹18 lakh contributed. With 40% in an annuity at an assumed 6%, the pension estimate is about ₹20,800 a month, and about ₹62.4 lakh could be taken as a lump sum. With the non-government minimum of 20%, the pension estimate halves to about ₹10,400 a month and the lump sum rises to about ₹83.2 lakh.
These are estimates, not promises
NPS returns depend on the markets and the funds you choose, and they change every year. Annuity rates depend on your age, the annuity type and rates at the time you buy. Fund charges and tax are not included. Use the result to compare choices, such as starting five years earlier or adding a yearly increase, rather than as a forecast. For the official position on your account, use your statement from the central recordkeeping agency or the NPS Trust.
Results are estimates for planning. Your employer, bank, fund or the tax department may round differently or apply other rules, so check the final figure with them.