PFRDA Operational Guidelines : Submission of Exception and Audit Reports by Pointes of Presence (PoPs) – PFRDA Circular dated 06.10.2026
पेंशन निधि विनियामक और विकास प्राधिकरण
PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
CIRCULAR LETTER
PFRDA-17/05/16/0006/2024-SUP-POP
Date: 06th October 2026
To,
All Points of Presence (PoPs) undertaking activities under the National Pension System (NPS), including NPS Vatsalya/NPS Sanchay, APY and NPS Lite
Subject: Frequency of submission of Exception Reports and Audit reports by Points of Presence (PoPs) based on the revised Operational guidelines and Audit Reports.
1. In terms of the revised Operational Guidelines for PoPs under APY, NPS and NPS-Lite dated 27.02.2026, and the Audit Reports for PoPs under APY, NPS and NPS-Lite dated 17.06.2026, applicable with effect from FY 2026-27, the periodicity for submission of Exception Reports and Audit Reports by PoPs shall be determined on the basis of the subscriber base as on the last day of the preceding financial year, as under:
| Scheme | Subscriber Base | Exception Report | Audit Report |
| NPS | 10,000 and above | Half-yearly To be submitted within 30 (thirty) days from the end of the respective reporting period. | Annually Within 3 months from the end of the respective reporting period. |
| NPS | Less than 10,000 | Annually To be submitted within 30 (thirty) days from the end of the respective reporting period. | Triennially Within 3 months from the end of the respective reporting period. |
| APY | 1,00,000 and above | Half-yearly To be submitted within 30 (thirty) days from the end of the respective reporting period. | Annually Within 3 months from the end of the respective reporting period. |
| APY | Less than 1,00,000 | Annually To be submitted within 30 (thirty) days from the end of the respective reporting period. | Triennially Within 3 months from the end of the respective reporting period. |
| NPS Lite | All NPS Lite PoPs | Annually To be submitted within 1 month of completion of every financial Year (by 30th April every year) | Triennially Within 3 months from the end of the respective reporting period. |
2. PFRDA has developed the Tracking Reporting Analytics and Compliance (TRACE) Portal, a centralised digital platform for submission, monitoring and examination of supervisory reports furnished by regulated entities. All PoPs are required to submit the aforesaid returns/reports exclusively through the TRACE Portal. In this regard, PoPs are advised to note the following returns, to be submitted based on their applicable subscriber base:
| Return Number | Name of return | Frequency |
| R022 | Exception Report – APY | Annual |
| R170 | Exception Report – APY | Half Yearly |
| R025 | Exception Report – NPS | Annual |
| R171 | Exception Report – NPS | Half Yearly |
| R026 | Exception Report – NPS Lite | Annual |
3. To facilitate PoPs in identifying the returns applicable to them, the PoP Supervision Department has determined the subscriber base of all PoPs as on 31 March 2026 and classified the applicable reporting periodicity under NPS, APY and NPS-Lite, as enclosed at Annexure-I.
All PoPs are advised to adhere strictly to the reporting periodicity applicable to them, as determined above, while submitting the Exception Reports and Audit Reports through the TRACE Portal.
Enclosed: Annexure-I
Yours Sincerely
Digitally signed by
ASHISH KUMAR
Chief General Manager
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