The Government of India has extended two additional investment choices under the National Pension System (NPS) to employees of Central Autonomous Bodies (CABs) covered under NPS through the Department of Expenditure Office Memorandum dated 1 July 2026. These options were earlier introduced for Central Government employees under the Department of Financial Services Notification dated 13 November 2025 and are now available to eligible CAB employees. The new choices include the LC-75-High fund, offering equity exposure of up to 75% for subscribers seeking higher long-term growth, and the Aggressive Life Cycle Fund (formerly Balanced Life Cycle Fund), providing equity exposure up to 50% with gradual reduction from the age of 45 years to balance growth and stability. The extension aims to provide greater flexibility by allowing subscribers to align pension investments with their risk appetite, financial goals, and retirement planning needs. Ministries have been directed to inform CABs, and these investment options will be available through the Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA) system.
PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
PRESS RELEASE
Additional Investment Choices extended to Central Autonomous Bodies Employees subscribed under NPS
New Delhi, July 2026: The Government of India has extended two additional investment choices under the National Pension System (NPS) to employees of Central Autonomous Bodies (CABs) covered under NPS.
The Office Memorandum – F. No.1(3)/EV/2020 dated 1st July 2026 issued by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, extending the applicability of the Department of Financial Services Notification dated 13 November 2025 to employees of Central Autonomous Bodies covered under NPS. The said notification had earlier introduced the Additional Investment Choices, namely the Aggressive Life Cycle Fund (LC-75) and the Balanced Life Cycle Fund (BLC), for Central Government employees covered under NPS. These investment options have now been extended to NPS subscribers employed in CABs. With this extension, eligible employees of Central Autonomous Bodies will now have choice to the following additional investment options under NPS:
a. Aggressive Life Cycle Fund (LC-75) now named as LC-75-High: An investment option with equity exposure of up to 75%, designed for subscribers seeking higher growth potential over the long term.
b. Balanced Life Cycle Fund (BLC) now named as Aggressive Life Cycle Fund: An investment option with equity exposure capped at 50%, with gradual reduction in equity allocation beginning from the age of 45 years, offering a balanced approach between growth and stability.
The extension of these investment choices aims to provide greater flexibility to NPS subscribers in Central Autonomous Bodies, enabling them to align their pension investments with their individual risk appetite, financial goals, and retirement planning requirements. These choices further strengthen subscriber choice and enhance the attractiveness of the National Pension System for employees covered under NPS across Central Autonomous Bodies.
Administrative Ministries and Departments may inform the CABs under their administrative control about the availability of the aforesaid investment choices and advise them to disseminate the same among eligible NPS subscribers for availing the facility.
The aforesaid investment choices shall be made available in the Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA) system
