The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) hosted an interactive session on the National Pension System (NPS) titled “Retire Smart India” at Royal Sarovar Portico, Siliguri, on Thursday, aiming to promote retirement planning and financial literacy among citizens. The programme featured a welcome address by ICC, followed by a keynote speech from Sumit Kumar, Chief General Manager, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
The session included presentations by Puja Upadhyay, Deputy General Manager, PFRDA, on NPS as a retirement benefit scheme, and CA Varsha Jain of Vishal Raj Jain & Co., who explained the tax benefits under NPS. Participants engaged in an interactive Q&A session to clarify doubts and deepen understanding. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by CA Manish Agarwal, partner at AgarwalSandeep Manish Associates and ICC North Bengal member, followed by a press meet and high tea.
In Siliguri, experts observed growing awareness among professionals and entrepreneurs about structured financial planning. As a commercial hub linking North Bengal and the Northeast, Siliguri is witnessing increasing adoption of financial instruments like NPS, reflecting a shift toward long-term wealth security and retirement readiness. PFRDA officials highlighted that India’s NPS subscriber base has crossed 2 crore nationally, with over 1.75 lakh in the Northeast and more than 3.70 lakh in West Bengal. With initiatives like NPS Quest 2.0, PFRDA is working toward its vision of a “Pensioned Society by 2047,” ensuring pension access for all citizens.
