NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has launched Tatkal NPS on the BHIM Payments App, allowing eligible users to open National Pension System (NPS) accounts through a three-step digital process. Announced on October 14, 2026, the facility aims to simplify pension onboarding by eliminating branch visits and fresh paperwork.
Introduced by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), the service uses existing bank-verified KYC details. Eligible Indian citizens aged 18 to 85 can enter their date of birth, select a participating bank account and make their first contribution through UPI. The minimum initial contribution is ₹250, while subsequent contributions can start at ₹10, subject to applicable NPS requirements.
The facility is currently available to customers of State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank and Bank of Baroda. Additional banks are expected to be onboarded later.
Lalitha Nataraj, managing director and CEO of NBSL, said Tatkal NPS would extend BHIM’s role from facilitating payments and contributions to supporting pension account opening. PFRDA chairperson S. Ramann said the initiative could make retirement planning more accessible across India.
The launch reflects the growing role of UPI-based platforms in expanding access to formal financial products. NPS is a low-cost, PFRDA-regulated pension scheme investing contributions in market-linked funds managed by regulated pension fund managers, with tax benefits available under applicable rules.
