In a move aimed at giving central government employees greater control over their retirement savings, the government has approved two new investment options — Life Cycle 75 (LC75) and Balanced Life Cycle (BLC) — under both the National Pension System (NPS) and the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
The decision has been taken in response to a long-standing demand from government staff who wanted the same flexibility in choosing pension fund options as non-government subscribers.
With this change, employees can now fine-tune how their retirement money is invested, balancing between growth and safety based on personal comfort with risk.
More flexibility, more choice for central govt employees under NPS, UPS
Under the new framework, central government employees can pick from a wider range of investment patterns:
Default option: As defined by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
Scheme G: 100% in government securities — for those preferring guaranteed, low-risk returns.
LC25 and LC50: Options allowing a maximum equity exposure of 25% or 50%, tapering gradually from age 35 to 55.
BLC (Balanced Life Cycle): A modified version of LC50, where the equity exposure begins reducing from age 45, giving employees a longer participation in the equity market.
LC75: The most growth-oriented option, starting with up to 75% in equities, gradually reducing from age 35 to 55.
A smarter way to balance growth and safety
The government said these “auto choice” options follow a glide path mechanism — meaning the share of equities automatically decreases as the investor ages. By age 55, equity exposure falls to around 15% in LC75 and 35% in BLC, shielding employees from heavy market swings close to retirement.
Asset Allocation in Life Cycle Funds
| Age | LC75 | LC50 | Balanced LC50 | LC25 |
| Up to 35 Years | E: 75%, C: 10%, G: 15% | E: 50%, C: 30%, G: 20% | E: 50%, C: 30%, G: 20% | E: 25%, C: 45%, G: 30% |
| 36 Years | E: 71%, C: 11%, G: 18% | E: 48%, C: 29%, G: 23% | E: 50%, C: 30%, G: 20% | E: 24%, C: 43%, G: 33% |
| 37 Years | E: 67%, C: 12%, G: 21% | E: 46%, C: 28%, G: 26% | E: 50%, C: 30%, G: 20% | E: 23%, C: 41%, G: 36% |
| 38 Years | E: 63%, C: 13%, G: 24% | E: 44%, C: 27%, G: 29% | E: 50%, C: 30%, G: 20% | E: 22%, C: 39%, G: 39% |
| 39 Years | E: 59%, C: 14%, G: 27% | E: 42%, C: 26%, G: 32% | E: 50%, C: 30%, G: 20% | E: 21%, C: 37%, G: 42% |
| 40 Years | E: 55%, C: 15%, G: 30% | E: 40%, C: 25%, G: 35% | E: 50%, C: 30%, G: 20% | E: 20%, C: 35%, G: 45% |
| 41 Years | E: 51%, C: 16%, G: 33% | E: 38%, C: 24%, G: 38% | E: 50%, C: 30%, G: 20% | E: 19%, C: 33%, G: 48% |
| 42 Years | E: 47%, C: 17%, G: 36% | E: 36%, C: 23%, G: 41% | E: 50%, C: 30%, G: 20% | E: 18%, C: 31%, G: 51% |
| 43 Years | E: 43%, C: 18%, G: 39% | E: 34%, C: 22%, G: 44% | E: 50%, C: 30%, G: 20% | E: 17%, C: 29%, G: 54% |
| 44 Years | E: 39%, C: 19%, G: 42% | E: 32%, C: 21%, G: 47% | E: 50%, C: 30%, G: 20% | E: 16%, C: 27%, G: 57% |
| 45 Years | E: 35%, C: 20%, G: 45% | E: 30%, C: 20%, G: 50% | E: 50%, C: 30%, G: 20% | E: 15%, C: 25%, G: 60% |
| 46 Years | E: 32%, C: 20%, G: 48% | E: 28%, C: 19%, G: 53% | E: 48%, C: 28%, G: 24% | E: 14%, C: 23%, G: 63% |
| 47 Years | E: 29%, C: 20%, G: 51% | E: 26%, C: 18%, G: 56% | E: 46%, C: 26%, G: 28% | E: 13%, C: 21%, G: 66% |
| 48 Years | E: 26%, C: 20%, G: 54% | E: 24%, C: 17%, G: 59% | E: 44%, C: 24%, G: 32% | E: 12%, C: 19%, G: 69% |
| 49 Years | E: 23%, C: 20%, G: 57% | E: 22%, C: 16%, G: 62% | E: 42%, C: 22%, G: 36% | E: 11%, C: 17%, G: 72% |
| 50 Years | E: 20%, C: 20%, G: 60% | E: 20%, C: 15%, G: 65% | E: 40%, C: 20%, G: 40% | E: 10%, C: 15%, G: 75% |
| 51 Years | E: 19%, C: 18%, G: 63% | E: 18%, C: 14%, G: 68% | E: 39%, C: 18%, G: 43% | E: 9%, C: 13%, G: 78% |
| 52 Years | E: 18%, C: 16%, G: 66% | E: 16%, C: 13%, G: 71% | E: 38%, C: 16%, G: 46% | E: 8%, C: 11%, G: 81% |
| 53 Years | E: 17%, C: 14%, G: 69% | E: 14%, C: 12%, G: 74% | E: 37%, C: 14%, G: 49% | E: 7%, C: 9%, G: 84% |
| 54 Years | E: 16%, C: 12%, G: 72% | E: 12%, C: 11%, G: 77% | E: 36%, C: 12%, G: 52% | E: 6%, C: 7%, G: 87% |
| 55 Years | E: 15%, C: 10%, G: 75% | E: 10%, C: 10%, G: 80% | E: 35%, C: 10%, G: 55% | E: 5%, C: 5%, G: 90% |
Empowering employees for informed planning
This expansion is expected to help government employees structure their pension savings according to their own financial goals and risk appetite. It also brings the NPS and the new UPS in closer alignment with global best practices in pension design — where younger investors are encouraged to stay longer in equities for higher long-term growth, and gradually shift to safer assets as retirement nears.
With this move, the government aims to make pension planning for central employees not just safer, but smarter — offering a blend of stability and opportunity for every stage of their working life.