**Executive Summary**
This press release announces a consultation paper on the proposed IFSCA (Pension Fund) Regulations, 2025. These regulations aim to develop a robust pension ecosystem within the IFSC, catering to the needs of NRIs, PIOs, and foreign expatriates. Stakeholders are invited to submit comments and suggestions on the proposed regulations by November 25, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Regulatory Authority:**
* IFSCA has been empowered to regulate and develop pension products and services within GIFT-IFSC, as per Section 13 of the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019.
* **Government Notifications:**
* The Government of India (GoI) has notified 'schemes operated by a pension fund' as 'financial product' for the purposes of the IFSCA Act, 2019.
* The GoI has exempted the application of Section 25 of the PFRDA Act 2013 to financial products, financial services, or financial institutions in the IFSC.
* **Proposed Regulations:**
* IFSCA proposes to introduce the IFSCA (Pension Fund) Regulations, 2025, enabling the launch of pension schemes from IFSC.
* The aim is to develop a robust and forward-looking pension framework within the IFSC.
* The framework will cater to the needs of 15 million NRIs, 19 million PIOs, and foreign expatriates.
* **Objectives of the Regulations:**
* Establish a robust pension ecosystem.
* Create an attractive regulatory environment for pension products and services.
* Position the IFSC as a global hub for pension funds.
* **Features of Proposed Regulations:**
* Voluntary participation of subscribers.
* Flexibility in determining contribution frequency and amount.
* Variety of investment options.
* Multiple scheme types.
* Diverse exit options.
* Integration of pension plans with medical policies or health insurance.
* **Feedback Invitation:**
* IFSCA invites comments and suggestions from stakeholders, market participants, and the general public.
* Feedback can be submitted to IFSCA on or before November 25, 2025.
* The consultation paper is available on the IFSCA website at https://ifsca.gov.in/PublicConsultation
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders:** Stakeholders, market participants, and the general public.
**Impact:** The proposed regulations will affect the way pension products and services are offered and regulated within the GIFT-IFSC.
**Action Required:** Review the consultation paper and submit comments and suggestions to IFSCA on or before November 25, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
IFSCA (Pension Fund) Regulations, 2025: Proposed regulations for pension funds within the IFSC.
International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019: Act that empowers the IFSCA to regulate financial services in GIFT-IFSC.
IFSCA: International Financial Services Centres Authority, the regulator responsible for regulating and developing pension products and services within GIFT-IFSC.
PFRDA Act 2013: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013, section 25 is exempted to financial products/services in the IFSC.
GIFT-IFSC: Gujarat International Finance Tec-City International Financial Services Centre, the location for which the IFSCA has regulatory powers.
PRESS RELEASE
Consultation Paper on the proposed IFSCA (Pension Fund) Regulations, 2025
In terms of Section 13 of the International Financial Services Centres Authority
Act, 2019, the IFSCA has been vested with the powers for regulating and developing
pension products and services within GIFT-IFSC.
2. Upon recommendations of IFSCA, the Government of India (GoI) vide gazette
notification dated December 5, 2024, notified the ‘schemes operated by a pension
fund’ as a ‘financial product’ for the purposes of the IFSCA Act, 2019. Further, the GoI,
through a gazette notification dated October 1, 2025, has exempted the application of
Section 25 of the PFRDA Act 2013 to financial products, financial services or financial
institutions in the IFSC.
3. Based on the above, the IFSCA now proposes to introduce the IFSCA (Pension
Fund) Regulations, 2025 for enabling the launch of pension schemes from IFSC. The
consultation paper is aimed at developing a robust, inclusive, and forward-looking
forex pension framework within the IFSC, to cater to the needs of 15 million NRIs, 19
million PIOs as well as foreign expatriates.
4. The main objective of the proposed regulations is to establish a robust pension
ecosystem, create an attractive regulatory environment for pension products and
services and position the IFSC as a global hub for pension funds.
5. The features of proposed regulations include voluntary participation of
subscribers in pension scheme, flexibility to determine the frequency and amount of
contributions, offering a variety of investment options such as contribution, multiple
scheme type, and diverse exit options and integrating the pension plan with medical
policies or health insurance to enhance the pension product's value proposition.
6. IFSCA invites comments and suggestions from stakeholders, market
participants, and the general public on the proposed regulations. The feedback may
be submitted to IFSCA on or before November 25, 2025. The consultation paper is
placed on the website of the IFSCA at https://ifsca.gov.in/PublicConsultation
Gandhinagar
November 04, 2025