NPS Partial Withdrawal Rules: When You Can Take Money Out Before Retirement
You can withdraw money from NPS before retirement — without exiting the scheme. After 3 years of subscription, you're allowed to take out up to 25% of your own contributions, up to 4 times before age 60, for specific reasons like buying a house, children's education, or medical emergencies. The withdrawal is completely tax-free. Here's exactly how it works, what qualifies, and what doesn't.
Quick Summary
| Parameter | Rule |
|---|---|
| Minimum subscription period | 3 years |
| Maximum withdrawals | 4 times (before age 60) |
| Maximum amount per withdrawal | 25% of your own contributions |
| Minimum gap between withdrawals | 4 years |
| Tax on withdrawal | Nil — completely tax-free |
| Applies to | Tier I account only |
| Tier II | No restrictions — withdraw anytime, any amount |
Important: The 25% limit is on your own contributions only — not on the total corpus (which includes employer contributions and investment returns). If you've contributed ₹10 lakh of your own money and the corpus has grown to ₹18 lakh, you can withdraw up to ₹2.5 lakh (25% of ₹10 lakh), not ₹4.5 lakh.
6 Permitted Reasons for Partial Withdrawal
You can only make a partial withdrawal for one of these specific purposes:
| # | Reason | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Higher education of children | Includes legally adopted children |
| 2 | Marriage of children | Includes legally adopted children |
| 3 | Purchase or construction of residential house | Must be first house, in your name or joint with spouse. Not allowed if you already own a house (ancestral property excluded) |
| 4 | Medical treatment or hospitalization | For self, spouse, children (including adopted), or parents |
| 5 | Disability or incapacitation | Medical and incidental expenses arising from subscriber's disability |
| 6 | Financial obligation against lien | Settlement of a financial obligation from a regulated institution against a lien/charge marked on your NPS account |
What's NOT covered: - General investment needs - Debt repayment (unless against NPS lien) - Travel or lifestyle expenses - Starting a business - Any reason not in the above list
The withdrawal is on a declaration basis — you declare the purpose. You'll need to submit relevant documents to your Point of Presence (POP) or nodal office.
How Much Can You Actually Withdraw?
Let's work through examples:
Example 1: 5 Years of NPS, ₹50,000/month Contribution
| Parameter | Amount |
|---|---|
| Own contributions (5 years × 12 × ₹50,000) | ₹30,00,000 |
| Employer contributions | ₹15,00,000 |
| Investment returns | ₹12,00,000 |
| Total corpus | ₹57,00,000 |
| Max partial withdrawal (25% of own) | ₹7,50,000 |
You can take ₹7.5 lakh — not ₹14.25 lakh (25% of total corpus).
Example 2: 10 Years of NPS, ₹25,000/month Contribution
| Parameter | Amount |
|---|---|
| Own contributions (10 years × 12 × ₹25,000) | ₹30,00,000 |
| Employer contributions | ₹30,00,000 |
| Investment returns | ₹25,00,000 |
| Total corpus | ₹85,00,000 |
| Max partial withdrawal (25% of own) | ₹7,50,000 |
Same own contribution, same withdrawal limit — even though the total corpus is much larger.
Example 3: Maximum Possible Withdrawals Over a Career
If you join at 25 and stay till 60 (35 years), you can make 4 withdrawals with 4-year gaps:
| Withdrawal # | Earliest Age | Amount (25% of own contributions at that time) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 28 (after 3 years) | 25% of contributions made till then |
| 2nd | 32 (4-year gap) | 25% of contributions made till then |
| 3rd | 36 | 25% of contributions made till then |
| 4th | 40 | 25% of contributions made till then |
After the 4th withdrawal, no more partial withdrawals are allowed before 60 — regardless of reason.
Partial Withdrawal After Age 60
If you choose to continue in NPS beyond 60 (you can stay till 85), partial withdrawal rules change slightly:
| Parameter | Before 60 | After 60 (if continuing) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum frequency | 4 times | No stated maximum |
| Minimum gap | 4 years | 3 years |
| Amount limit | 25% of own contributions | 25% of own contributions |
| Reasons required | Yes (6 specified reasons) | Yes (same reasons apply) |
The Process: How to Make a Partial Withdrawal
- Check eligibility: Minimum 3 years since joining, and 4 years since last partial withdrawal (if any)
- Identify your reason: Must be one of the 6 permitted categories
- Gather documents: Proof of the purpose (admission letter, medical bills, property agreement, etc.)
- Submit request: Through your POP (Point of Presence) or nodal office
- For corporate NPS: through your employer's nodal office
- For All Citizen Model: through your POP (bank branch where you opened NPS)
- Processing: CRA (Central Recordkeeping Agency) processes the request per PFRDA guidelines
- Credit: Amount credited to your registered bank account
If you're ill: A family member can submit the withdrawal request on your behalf.
Tier II: No Restrictions
NPS Tier II is a completely separate account with different rules:
| Parameter | Tier I (Pension Account) | Tier II (Savings Account) |
|---|---|---|
| Lock-in | Till 60 (or 15 years for non-govt) | None |
| Withdrawal restrictions | 25% of own contributions, 4 times, specific reasons | None — withdraw anytime, any amount |
| Tax benefit on contribution | Yes (80CCD(1), 80CCD(1B)) | No (except for govt employees under Tax Saver scheme) |
| Minimum balance | ₹500 | ₹2,000 |
| Prerequisite | — | Must have active Tier I account |
Key point: If you need liquidity from NPS, Tier II is the answer — but it offers no tax benefits on contributions (for non-government subscribers). It's essentially a mutual fund with NPS fund managers and very low costs.
Exception: Central government employees get a tax deduction on Tier II contributions under the NPS Tier II Tax Saver Scheme — but with a 3-year lock-in.
Partial Withdrawal vs Premature Exit: Which Is Better?
If you need money from NPS before retirement, you have two options. Here's how they compare:
| Partial Withdrawal | Premature Exit | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount accessible | Up to 25% of own contributions | 20% of total corpus (if >₹5L) |
| NPS account | Stays open, continues growing | Closed permanently |
| Annuity requirement | None | 80% forced into annuity (if corpus >₹5L) |
| Tax | Tax-free | Lump sum portion tax-free; annuity income taxable |
| Reason required | Yes (6 specific reasons) | No reason needed |
| Future contributions | Continue as normal | Not possible (account closed) |
| Frequency | Up to 4 times | One-time (exit) |
Almost always, partial withdrawal is better than premature exit — unless your need doesn't fall under the 6 permitted reasons and you absolutely must access the money.
→ Why premature exit is so punitive
Common Questions
"I need money for my child's school fees. Does that count as higher education?"
The regulation says "higher education" — this typically means college/university level education, not school fees. The interpretation may vary; check with your POP.
"Can I withdraw for my own education (e.g., MBA)?"
No. The rule specifies "children's higher education" — not the subscriber's own education.
"I already own a flat. Can I withdraw for a second property?"
No. The rule explicitly states: "if the subscriber already owns a residential house or flat (other than ancestral property), no withdrawal shall be permitted" for the housing reason.
"What if I need money for a reason not on the list?"
You cannot make a partial withdrawal. Your options are: - Wait till you complete 15 years and do a normal exit (80/20 split) - Use Tier II funds (if you have a Tier II account) - Take a loan against other assets
"Does the 4-year gap reset if I change employers?"
No. The gap is tied to your PRAN (Permanent Retirement Account Number), not your employer. Changing jobs doesn't reset the clock.
"Can I withdraw from both Tier I and Tier II simultaneously?"
Yes. Tier II has no restrictions — you can withdraw from it anytime regardless of Tier I partial withdrawal status.
Key Takeaways
- 3 years minimum before your first partial withdrawal
- 25% of own contributions — not total corpus, not including employer contributions or returns
- 4 times maximum before age 60, with 4-year gaps
- 6 specific reasons only — housing, children's education/marriage, medical, disability, lien settlement
- Completely tax-free — no tax on partial withdrawals
- Tier II has no restrictions — use it for liquidity if you need flexibility
- Partial withdrawal > premature exit in almost every scenario
- Declaration basis — you declare the purpose and submit supporting documents
For young professionals worried about NPS lock-in: partial withdrawal provides a safety valve for life's major expenses without triggering the punitive premature exit rules. If you're joining NPS primarily for the tax benefit, knowing these rules upfront helps you plan around the liquidity constraints.
Related articles: - NPS Withdrawal Rules 2026: Everything That Changed - NPS Exit at 60: How Much Can You Withdraw? - NPS Premature Exit Before 60: The Rules Nobody Warns You About - NPS Retirement Income Scheme (RIS) Explained - NPS Withdrawal Tax Rules: The 60% vs 80% Problem
Sources: NPS Trust (npstrust.org.in) — Partial Withdrawal page (last updated 22 May 2026), PFRDA (Exits and Withdrawals) Amendment Regulations 2025, Income Tax Act Section 10(12A).
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Rules are subject to regulatory changes. Verify current rules on the NPS Trust website or with your POP before making withdrawal decisions. Arth tracks your NPS contributions and helps you plan withdrawals alongside your other financial goals — visit askarth.com.
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