You put money into NPS every month. When was the last time you checked your statement?
If you are like most NPS subscribers, the answer is never. You assume the fund manager is doing their job and move on.
Here is the thing. NPS is market-linked. Your money goes into equity, corporate bonds, or government securities. The returns depend on which fund manager you picked and how the market did. If you never check your statement, you will not know if your money is actually growing.
Let me walk you through exactly how to get your NPS statement from the CRA portal, what all the jargon means, and how to read it properly.
Step 1: Log into the CRA Portal
NPS is run by Central Recordkeeping Agencies (CRAs). Depending on when you opened your account, yours will be with:
- Protean eGov (formerly NSDL) — Go to cra.nps-proteantech.in
- KFintech — Go to nps.kfintech.com
Your login ID is your 12-digit PRAN (Permanent Retirement Account Number). The password (I-PIN) is the one you created when you first registered.
Forgot your password? Click “Reset Password” on the login page. You can get a new one instantly using an OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
Once you log in, look for the menu option that says “Transaction Statement” or “Statements”. That is where all the download options live.
Step 2: The 3 Statement Types — CAF, AAF, SAF
The CRA portal gives you three types of statements. Each one has a different job.
CAF — Consolidated Account Statement
This is your full NPS history from day one. It includes every single transaction.
What you will find inside:
- Every contribution — yours and your employer’s
- Every unit purchase with the NAV on that date
- Any switch transactions between fund managers
- Your current fund value and total corpus
Use the CAF when you want to see the complete picture. How much have you invested in total? What are your overall returns? This statement answers both.
By the way, PFRDA has also tied up with NSDL and CDSL so your NPS transactions can show up in the same CAS (Consolidated Account Statement) you get for your demat and mutual fund holdings. You need to opt in for this on the CRA website. That is a separate thing from the CAF inside the NPS portal.
AAF — Annual Account Statement
PFRDA rules say CRAs must send every subscriber an annual statement. It usually arrives within 3 months after the financial year ends (by June or July).
What you will find inside:
- Summary of contributions made during the financial year
- Total units held at year end
- Scheme-wise break-up (E, C, G)
- Current value of your investments
This is the statement you need for tax filing. It proves your NPS investment when claiming deductions under Section 80CCD(1) and 80CCD(1B) of the Income Tax Act.
You can choose to get this by email or as a physical copy. On the CRA login page, look for “Opt for Email Annual Transaction Statement”. Email costs 10 paise. Physical costs Re 1. The email version also reaches you faster.
SAF — Statement of Account
This is a snapshot of your holdings on a specific date. No transaction history, just the current status.
What you will find inside:
- Current NAV of each scheme
- Total units held under each scheme
- Current market value
- Total corpus (Tier I + Tier II combined)
Use the SAF when you want a quick status check. How is my NPS doing today? That is the only question this statement answers.
Step 3: How to Read the NAV Rows
Your NPS statement will show rows that look something like this:
| Date | Particulars | Contribution (Rs.) | NAV (Rs.) | Units | Fund Value (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05-Apr-2025 | Contribution | 5,000 | 48.23 | 103.67 | 5,000 |
| 05-May-2025 | Contribution | 5,000 | 49.15 | 101.73 | 10,050.23 |
Here is what each column means:
- Date — When the transaction happened. Contributions usually take 1-3 working days to show up.
- Particulars — What happened. “Contribution” means money came in. “Redemption” or “Switch Out” means units were sold.
- Contribution — The rupee amount you put in.
- NAV — Net Asset Value. This is the price of one unit on that day. It changes daily based on the market.
- Units — How many units you got. Calculated as Contribution divided by NAV.
- Fund Value — Running total of your investment after this transaction.
Simple way to think about it: If NAV is higher than when you bought in, you are making money. If it is lower, you are sitting on a loss. But do not panic if that happens. NPS is a long-term product. Markets go up and down.
Step 4: Check Your Fund Manager’s Performance
Your statement will also show which Pension Fund Manager (PFM) is handling your money and which schemes they invest in.
NPS has three main scheme types:
- Scheme E (Equity) — Invests in stocks. Higher returns, higher risk.
- Scheme C (Corporate Bonds) — Invests in company debentures. Moderate returns.
- Scheme G (Government Securities) — Invests in government bonds. Lowest returns, safest.
If you picked the “Auto Choice” option (also called the Lifecycle Fund), your allocation shifts automatically from E to C to G as you get older. At 30, you might have 70% in equity. At 50, that drops to around 20%.
How do you know if your fund manager is doing a good job?
Compare your fund’s NAV growth against the benchmark for that category. For example:
- Scheme E usually tracks the Nifty 50. Check if your fund’s NAV grew more or less than the Nifty over the same period.
- PFRDA publishes performance data for all Pension Funds on its website. You can also check the National Pension System Trust’s “PRIDE” dashboard to compare funds side by side.
If your fund has been consistently behind its benchmark for 2-3 years, you can switch to another PFM. You can do this online through the CRA portal.
Step 5: Tier I vs Tier II Statements
If you have both a Tier I and a Tier II NPS account, your statement will show them separately.
| Feature | Tier I Statement | Tier II Statement |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Retirement savings | Flexible, voluntary savings |
| Minimum annual contribution | Rs. 1,000 | No minimum |
| Withdrawal rule | Restricted (partial after 3 years, max 25%) | No restrictions |
| Tax benefit on contribution | Yes (Section 80CCD) | No |
| Tax on withdrawal | Exempt (subject to rules) | Taxable |
| Must buy annuity at retirement? | 40% of corpus must go to annuity | No |
On the CRA portal, when you generate a statement you can pick which tier to view. Some portals show both tiers in one statement with separate sections.
One thing to note. Your Tier II statement will usually show more redemption transactions because you can withdraw anytime. If you use Tier II actively, check it monthly to track your activity.
Action Steps
- Download your CAF today. Log into the CRA portal and get your complete transaction statement. Spend 10 minutes scanning it.
- Switch to email statements. On the CRA login page, opt for the paperless option. It saves paper and reaches you faster.
- Check fund performance quarterly. Compare your fund’s NAV growth with its benchmark. If your PFM is lagging for 2 years straight, consider switching.
- Save your AAF for tax time. The annual statement is valid proof for ITR deductions. Keep a copy every year.
Key Takeaway
Your NPS statement is your retirement report card. Downloading and reading it takes 15 minutes. Not checking it could mean years of unnoticed underperformance. Set a quarterly reminder and stick to it.
This is for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personalized advice.
