Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Indians Raise Retirement Corpus Target as NPS Interest Grows
Many Indians now think they will need about ₹1.50 crore for retirement.
This is higher than the ₹1.34 crore target recorded in 2023.
People are worried about paying for healthcare when they are older.
They are also concerned about health problems, ageing and not having enough savings.
About seven in ten people expect some help from their family or children after retiring.
More people are considering the National Pension System, or NPS, as a way to save.
Interest in NPS grew partly because of recent changes to the product.
However, some people dislike its lock-in rules and requirement to buy an annuity.
The ideal retirement corpus target rose to ₹1.50 crore in 2026 from ₹1.34 crore in 2023.
Retirement planning ranked behind medical expenses, emergency preparedness and children’s education among financial priorities.
Rising healthcare costs, ageing and insufficient savings were major post-retirement concerns.
About 69% of respondents expected financial support from family or children after retirement.
The NPS Preference Index increased to 57, while lock-in and mandatory annuity requirements remained key barriers.
- Who
- The study surveyed 1,812 NPS-aware consumers aged 30–55 from SEC-A households.
- What
- The study found that Indians raised their ideal retirement corpus target while interest in the National Pension System increased.
- When
- The findings are from the 2026 HDFC Pension NPS Preference Index Study, compared with 2023 results.
- Where
- The survey covered 13 Indian cities, with regional results reported for North, East, South and West India.
- Why
- Respondents cited rising healthcare costs, ageing, health issues and insufficient retirement savings as major concerns.
- Ideal retirement corpus
- ₹1.50 crore in 2026, up from ₹1.34 crore in 2023
- Retirement planning priority
- Cited by 34% of respondents
- Post-retirement healthcare concern
- Rising healthcare costs were cited by 47%
- Expected family support
- 69% expected some financial support from family or children
- NPS Preference Index
- Rose from 54 in 2023 to 57 in 2026
- Top NPS trigger
- Recent product enhancements, cited by 39%
- Top NPS barrier
- Lock-in, cited by 26%, followed by mandatory annuity purchase at 25%