**Executive Summary**
This circular, issued by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) on January 2nd, 2026, modifies a previous circular regarding paperless National Pension System (NPS) account openings. It clarifies that applicants must authenticate online NPS registration forms via e-Sign or OTP, ensuring consent and declarations are obtained through these methods. Central Recordkeeping Agencies (CRAs) and Points of Presence (POPs) are required to align their systems accordingly.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Authentication of NPS Registration Forms:**
* Applicants must authenticate online NPS registration forms via e-Sign or OTP received on their mobile number.
* Consent and mandatory declarations for NPS account opening must be specifically obtained from the applicant at the end of the online journey through e-Sign or mobile OTP authentication.
* **Responsibilities of CRAs and POPs:**
* CRAs and POPs are advised to align their systems and subscriber onboarding journeys in accordance with the circular's guidelines.
* **Legal Basis:**
* This circular is issued under the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 14 read with clause (e) of sub-section (2) of Section 14 of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013.
**Impact Analysis**
**Central Recordkeeping Agencies (CRAs) and Points of Presence (POPs)**
* **Impact:** CRAs and POPs must adjust their systems to accommodate OTP-based authentication for online NPS registration forms.
* **Action Required:** Align their systems and subscriber onboarding journeys with the new authentication guidelines (e-Sign or OTP) specified in the circular.
**NPS Applicants**
* **Impact:** Applicants for NPS accounts must authenticate the registration process via e-Sign or OTP received on their registered mobile number.
* **Action Required:** No specific action required as the process is already in place. Applicants should take note of authentication requirements via e-Sign or OTP.
Key Entities Referenced
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013: The legal foundation upon which the circular's power is based, specifically section 14.
National Pension System (NPS): The pension scheme which the circular addresses regarding paperless onboarding.
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA): The regulator issuing the circular.
PFRDA/2020/23/SUP-CRA/10: Previous circular that this circular modifies.
Circular
Circular No: PFRDA/2026/01/SUP-CRA/01 Date: 2nd Jan 2026
To
All Central Recordkeeping Agencies, Points of Presence and Other NPS
Stakeholders
Subject: OTP based authentication for paperless on-boarding-reg
In order to facilitate paperless opening of National Pension System (NPS)
accounts, the Authority had issued Circular No. PFRDA/2020/23/SUP-CRA/10
dated 15th June 2020, permitting submission of NPS account opening applications
through e-Signature or One Time Password (OTP).
2. In partial modification of Circular No PFRDA/2020/23/SUP-CRA/10 dated
15th June 2020, it has been decided that-
Applicants shall authenticate the submission of online NPS registration form
through e-sign or through an OTP received on their mobile number. The
consent and mandatory declarations applicable for opening of NPS account
shall be specifically obtained from the applicant at the end of such online
journey through the said e-Sign or mobile OTP authentication.
3. Central Recordkeeping Agencies (CRAs) and Points of Presence (POPs)
are advised to align their systems and subscriber onboarding journeys in
accordance with the above.
4. This Circular is issued in exercise of powers conferred under sub-section (1)
of Section 14 read with clause (e) of sub-section (2) of Section 14 of the Pension
Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013.
Yours sincerely,
Chief General Managerप(cid:303)रप(cid:361)
प(cid:303)रप(cid:361) सं(cid:421)ा : पीएफआरडीए/2026/01/एसयुपी-सीआरए/01 िदनांक : 02 जनवरी 2026
(cid:366)ित
सभी के (cid:574)ीय अिभलेखपाल अिभकरण, उप(cid:304)(cid:830)थित अ(cid:304)(cid:721)(cid:533) तथा अ(cid:586) एनपीएस िहतधारक
िवषय : कागज-रिहत ऑन-बोिड(cid:333)ग के िलए ओटीपी आधा(cid:303)रत स(cid:529)ापन के स(cid:638)(cid:576) म(cid:336)
रा(cid:700)(cid:332)ीय प(cid:336)शन (cid:366)णाली (एनपीएस) खातो ं को कागज-रिहत (cid:366)ि(cid:354)या से खोलने की सुिवधा (cid:366)दान
करने के िलए (cid:366)ािधकरण (cid:554)ारा प(cid:303)रप(cid:361) सं. पीएफआरडीए/2020/23/एसयूपी-सीआरए/10 िदनांक
15 जून 2020 म(cid:336) एनपीएस खाता खोलने हेतु िकए गए आवेदनो ंको ई-साइन या वन टाइम पासवड(cid:330)
(ओटीपी) के मा(cid:559)म से जमा करने की अनुमित दी गयी थी।
2. िदनांक 15 जून 2020 के प(cid:303)रप(cid:361) सं. पीएफआरडीए/2020/23/एसयूपी-सीआरए/10 मे आंिशक
संशोधन कर, यह िनण(cid:330)य िलया गया है िक -
आवेदक, ऑनलाइन एनपीएस पंजीकरण फॉम(cid:330) जमा करने के िलए ई-साइन के मा(cid:559)म से या
उनके मोबाइल नंबर पर (cid:366)ा(cid:593) ओटीपी के मा(cid:559)म से स(cid:529)ािपत कर(cid:336)गे। एनपीएस खाता खोलने
के िलए सहमित और लागू अिनवाय(cid:330) घोषणाएं िवशेष (cid:349)प से उ(cid:389) ई-साइन / मोबाइल ओटीपी
स(cid:529)ापन के मा(cid:559)म से ऐसी ऑनलाइन (cid:366)ि(cid:354)या के अंत म(cid:336) आवेदक से (cid:366)ा(cid:593) की जाएंगी।
3. के (cid:574)ीय अिभलेखपाल अिभकरण (सीआरए) और उप(cid:304)(cid:830)थित अ(cid:304)(cid:721)(cid:533)ो ं (पीओपी) को सलाह दी
जाती है िक वे उपयु(cid:330)(cid:389) िब(cid:802)दुओ ं के अनुसार अपनी (cid:366)णािलयो ं और अिभदाताओ ं की ऑनबोिड(cid:333)ग
(cid:366)ि(cid:354)याओ ंको संरे(cid:304)खत कर(cid:336)।
4. यह प(cid:303)रप(cid:361), प(cid:336)शन िनिध िविनयामक और िवकास (cid:366)ािधकरण अिधिनयम, 2013 की धारा 14 की
उप-धारा (1) के साथ पिठत धारा 14 की उप-धारा (2) के खंड (ङ) के तहत (cid:366)द(cid:517) श(cid:304)(cid:389)यो ंका (cid:366)योग
करते (cid:352)ए जारी िकया गया है।
भवदीय,
मु(cid:421) महा(cid:366)बंधक