**Executive Summary**
This press release announces the proposed IFSCA (Pension Fund) Regulations, 2025. The IFSCA aims to launch pension schemes from IFSC and invites comments and suggestions from stakeholders by November 25, 2025. The regulations aim to establish a robust pension ecosystem and position IFSC as a global hub for pension funds.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Regulatory Authority & Scope:**
* IFSCA is vested with powers 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:**
* Government of India (GoI) notified 'schemes operated by a pension fund' as a 'financial product' for IFSCA Act, 2019, dated December 5, 2024.
* GoI exempted Section 25 of the PFRDA Act 2013 to financial products, financial services or financial institutions in the IFSC, dated October 1, 2025.
* **IFSCA (Pension Fund) Regulations, 2025:**
* IFSCA proposes these regulations to enable the launch of pension schemes from IFSC.
* Aims to develop a robust, inclusive, and forward-looking forex pension framework within the IFSC.
* Designed to cater to the needs of 15 million NRIs, 19 million PIOs, and foreign expatriates.
* **Objectives:**
* 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 to determine the frequency and amount of contributions.
* Variety of investment options.
* Multiple scheme types and diverse exit options.
* Integration of pension plans with medical or health insurance.
* **Feedback and Consultation:**
* IFSCA invites comments and suggestions from stakeholders, market participants, and the general public.
* Feedback must be submitted to IFSCA on or before November 25, 2025.
* The consultation paper is available on the IFSCA website.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders:** Market Participants, General Public
**Impact:**
* Opportunity to provide feedback on proposed pension fund regulations.
**Action Required:**
* Review the consultation paper and submit comments and suggestions to IFSCA by November 25, 2025.
**Stakeholders:** NRIs, PIOs, and Foreign Expatriates
**Impact:**
* Potential access to new pension schemes offered through the IFSC.
* Framework designed to cater to their needs regarding forex pension.
**Action Required:**
* Evaluate the new pension schemes and determine their suitability based on individual financial goals.
Key Entities Referenced
IFSCA (Pension Fund) Regulations, 2025: Proposed regulations for pension funds within the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
IFSCA: The International Financial Services Centres Authority, the regulator responsible for regulating pension products and services within GIFT-IFSC.
International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019: Act empowering IFSCA to regulate and develop pension products and services.
PFRDA Act 2013: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013, some sections of which are being exempted within IFSC.
GIFT-IFSC: Gujarat International Finance Tec-City International Financial Services Centre where the regulations apply.
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