Corporate Conclave On NPS Highlights Pension Inclusion
Hyderabad: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), in association with KFintech, organised a Corporate Conclave on National Pension System (NPS) — Empowering Corporates, Enabling Bharat in the city today. The objective of the conclave was to enhance corporate participation in NPS and explore how technology can expand pension access across the country, especially to underserved sections.
Addressing the gathering as Chief Guest, Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary to the Government of Telangana, said that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted employee–employer relationships but also strengthened the bond between them. “The crisis proved the loyalty of employees as well as the care and concern shown by employers. But the question is—how many employees truly recognise the value of that loyalty?” he remarked.
He observed that many people are still reluctant to discuss retirement planning. With India’s large population and its demographic dividend, he stressed the need to prepare for the ageing population, which is projected to rise by 10% in the next decade. Telangana, he noted, has a well-structured pension framework for government and organised-sector employees. “But what about people in the unorganised sector?” he asked.
Shri Ranjan highlighted that gig and platform workers in Telangana are set to receive social protection under the upcoming Telangana Gig and Platform Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025, which is expected to be tabled in the next Assembly session.
He further shared that the Government of Telangana is also planning to introduce a pension scheme for all State Government employees, with support from PFRDA. “Standardising pension schemes for all government employees is the need of the hour,” he added. He urged industry players to continue innovating and introducing new products and services for the underserved.
Delivering a special address, Mr. S. Raman, Chairperson, PFRDA, said that during his four-month tenure he observed that people generally avoid conversations about retirement savings, especially pensions. “Many people remain unaware of financial planning, wealth creation, and financial instruments. Our mandate has always been—grow rich before you grow old,” he noted.
He emphasised the need for technology-driven financial inclusion. “In a digital world, we must reach a stage where anyone with a mobile phone can open a pension account instantly. It may take time, but that is the direction we must move towards. We also seek KFintech’s support in this effort. Technology must be infused into every financial product,” he added.
Mr. Raman pointed out that India has a workforce of over 55 crore, of which only 10 crore are in the organised sector. “This presents a massive opportunity for pension products. With just ₹3,000 a month and a moderate 2–3% annual increase in contribution, one can expect a return of about 9.2% CAGR,” he explained.
Sumit Kumar, Chief General Manager, PFRDA, delivered a comprehensive corporate presentation on the National Pension System (NPS).
Two panel discussions were held as part of the conclave. The first panel focused on “MSF and Suitability to Increase Corporate Participation in NPS.” It was moderated by Ms. Mamta Rohit, Executive Director, PFRDA, and featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Shri Sumit Mohindra, CEO of ICICI Prudential Pension Fund Management; Shri Umesh Gupta, CEO and Whole-Time Director of UTI Pension Fund; and Shri Rahul Bhagat, CEO of DSP Pension. The panel examined the evolving needs of corporates, the suitability of pension products, and the opportunities to deepen employer participation in NPS.
The second panel discussion centred on “The Role of Technology in Enabling NPS Access in Bharat.” Moderated by Shri Prithvi Burgula, Vice President, KFintech, the discussion brought together leading technology and fintech voices such as Shri Vishranth Suresh, CEO of Asset Plus; Shri Kuldeep Parashar, CEO of PensionBox; and Shri Thirumalnath JH, Chief of Growth and Strategy at Alldigi Tech. The panel explored how digital platforms, mobile-first solutions, and emerging financial technologies can simplify access to pension products and widen NPS adoption across India’s diverse demographic landscape.
During the event, leading Telangana corporates NMDC, Qualcomm, and Cyient were honoured for their outstanding contribution to strengthening the NPS ecosystem.
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