National Pension System Trust : As on 31st March 2012 NPS has 31,33,835 subscribers

The National Pension System Trust (NPS Trust) was established by PFRDA on 27th February, 2008 with the execution of the NPS Trust Deed. The NPS Trust has been set up and constituted for taking care of the assets and funds under the National Pension System (NPS) in the interest of the beneficiaries (subscribers). Individual NPS subscribers shall be the beneficiaries of the NPS Trust. The NPS fund are managed by the Board of Trustees to realize and fulfill the objectives of the NPS Trust in the exclusive interest of the Subscribers.

The Trust is managed by a Board of Trustees appointed by PFRDA (settlor of NPS Trust) from time to time. One of the Trustees from the Board is designated by PFRDA as Chairperson of the Board. PFRDA appoints a suitable person as Chief Executive Officer of the Trust (CEO) who shall be responsible for day to day administration and Management of the Trust subject to the superintendence, control and direction of the Board of NPS Trust. The Board shall meet once every three calendar months.

The current Board of Trustee of NPS Trust consists of Five Members as under:-
1. Sh. G. N. Bajpai- Chairman
2. Sh.Nagendra Bhatnagar-Chief Executive Officer & Trustee
3. Sh. Syed Shahabuddin – Trustee
4. Sh. Deepak M Satwalekar – Trustee
5. Dr. Rajan Saxena – Trustee
In fulfillment of its objectives, as broadly mentioned in the Deed, the NPS Trust supervises the Pension Fund Managers (PFM’S) and interacts with other intermediaries like Trustee Bank (Bank of India), Central Record Agency (NSDL), Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd, etc. The Trust is empowered to enter into agreements with other intermediaries and operating agencies to discharge its obligations.

As part of its obligations, the NPS Trust ensures that,

The PFM’s have been diligent in empanelling the brokers, in monitoring securities transactions with brokers and avoiding undue concentration of business with any broker.

The PFM’s has not given any undue or unfair advantage to any associates or dealt with any of the associates of the Pension Fund in any manner detrimental to interest of the beneficiaries

The PFM’s has been managing the Fund Schemes independently of other activities and has taken adequate steps to ensure that the interests of the beneficiaries are not compromised.

All the activities and the transactions of the PFM’s are in accordance with the provisions of the PFRDA guidelines/directions.

A memorandum of Understanding was signed between PFRDA and the NPS Trust highlighting the rights and obligations of both the parties on 1st July 2009.

To begin with the NPS was operational for the Central Government Employees (except defense forces) joining the service on after 1.1.2004. Subsequently the State Governments have also started joining the NPS. Three Fund managers have been appointed to manage the Funds of the Government employees from 1.1.2008.

SBI Pension Funds Private Limited
UTI Retirement Solutions Limited
LIC Pension Fund Limited
The NPS was opened up for all citizens of India with effect from 1st May 2009.  PFRDA appointed six Pension Fund Managers to manage the funds of the new subscribers.

SBI Pension Funds Private Limited
UTI Retirement Solutions Limited
ICICI Prudential Pension Funds Management Company limited
Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund Limited
IDFC Pension Fund Management Company Limited
Reliance Capital Pension Fund Limited
Agreements with all the Pension Fund Managers have been signed. Agreement has also been signed with the Stock Holding Corporation of India who acts as custodian of investment Instruments. So far Twenty Six State Governments /UT have joined the NPS by signing the agreement with the NPS Trust. More State Governments have shown their inclination to join the NPS Architecture.

A quarterly review of the Pension Fund managers is carried out by the NPS Trust to review and evaluate the performance of the Fund Managers and make suggestions for improvement.

As on 31st March 2012 NPS has 31,33,835 subscribers with 15163 Crores of Assets under Management.

Source: www.pfrda.org.in