Home / Business and Economy / MFDs Unlock Pension Doors: NPS Expansion
MFDs Unlock Pension Doors: NPS Expansion
23 Aug
Summary
- PFRDA leverages mutual fund distributors to widen NPS coverage.
- StAR NPS platform facilitates assisted digital onboarding.
- New process streamlines contributions and PRAN generation.

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is actively encouraging mutual fund distributors (MFDs) to participate in expanding the reach of the National Pension System (NPS). PFRDA has highlighted the StAR NPS platform, designed to enable assisted digital onboarding through eligible distributors.
This initiative seeks to capitalize on the existing trust and client relationships MFDs possess. PFRDA envisions NPS as a long-term product, offering distributors an opportunity to build lasting relationships with subscribers. Under this framework, MFDs act as facilitators, while Points of Presence (PoPs) manage essential services like KYC and onboarding.
The StAR NPS platform streamlines the investor's journey by directly routing initial contributions to the NPS Trustee Bank. This direct fund flow eliminates the need for fund pooling and manual reconciliation at the PoP level, with a T+1 settlement timeline for funds. Investors are assured that their core choices regarding pension funds and investment strategies remain unaffected by MFD involvement.