Make judicious investment choices when entering NPS and stick to them

While PFRDA will now allow investors to alter their investment choices four times in a financial year, tinkering too frequently may not be advisable except in volatile market conditions

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) will soon allow National Pension System (NPS) subscribers to change their investment choices four times in a financial year, instead of the two permitted currently. PFRDA chairman Supratim Bandyopadhyay announced this recently.

Experts say this is a positive development. “Subscribers will have more choice, which they very much require in these volatile times,” says Sumit Shukla, chief executive officer, HDFC Pension Fund Management.

Subscribers should, however, not exercise this option too frequently. “Once an investor has decided on a pattern, he should stick to it for a few years in this long-term instrument,” says