PFRDA Grade A Pension Sector: With the official PFRDA Grade A 2025 notification released on 23rd June 2025, and exam dates announced, It is the right time for candidates to begin their exam preparation. While many people focus on Paper 2 as a whole, the Pension Sector section is particularly important in the exam. The Pension Sector is not just a theoretical subject, it is more of clear concepts, awareness of policies, and knowledge of current developments. A general approach may not be enough to achieve high scores in this subject. In this article, we will guide you through a strategy based on expert advice, organized by topic, specifically for the PFRDA Grade A Pension Sector.
PFRDA Grade A Pension Sector Syllabus
The Pension Sector section in PFRDA Grade A Phase 2 is one of the most scoring yet challenging parts of the Paper 2 syllabus. It covers domain-specific topics crucial not only for the written exam but also for the interview. The syllabus is provided below:
- National Pension System (NPS): Architecture, intermediary roles (Trustee Bank, CRA, NPS Trust), scheme structure (Tier I & II), exit rules, tax treatment.
- Atal Pension Yojana (APY) and NPS Lite: Eligibility, benefits, contribution slabs, government co-contribution.
- Annuity Schemes: Types of annuities, annuity service providers, pension payment administration (PPA), calculation methods.
- Retirement Structures in India: Comparison of defined benefit vs defined contribution models, role of government and private sector.
- Investment Basics: Asset classes, equity-debt mix, fund performance, return tracking, PFM roles.
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65 Day Pension Sector Preparation Plan
Here's a week-by-week timeline to help you strategically prepare for the Pension Sector section of the PFRDA Grade A 2025 exam. The goal is to build conceptual clarity, practice mock sets, and revise efficiently before Phase 2 on October 6, 2025.
| Week Range | Focus Areas |
|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | Build strong fundamentals: Understand NPS architecture, CRA functions, Trust roles, intermediary structure, PFRDA regulations. |
| Weeks 3–5 | Dive deep into APY, NPS Lite, legacy schemes, and annuity types. Cover investment basics like asset allocation and PFM responsibilities. |
| Weeks 6–9 | Practice weekly mock papers based on the pension sector. Analyze previous year questions and mark commonly asked subtopics. |
| Weeks 10–12 | Focus on full-length revision. Track weightage of each topic, solve PYQs again, and attempt descriptive mock answers. |
Tip: Integrate 10 to 15 minutes of daily current affairs focused on the pension sector, especially recent circulars from PFRDA, RBI, and IRDAI. Candidates are advised to combine this subject-specific strategy with the broader PFRDA Grade A Study Plan 2025 to ensure comprehensive coverage of all exam relevant topics.
PFRDA Pension Sector Subject Wise Strategy Table
Here's a smart breakdown of subject-wise strategy to master each key Pension Sector topic.
| Topic | Focus Area | Strategy |
|---|
| National Pension System | NPS architecture, roles of CRA, PoPs, Trustee Bank | Read official PFRDA and NPS Trust circulars. Use flowcharts to memorize structure. |
| Scheme Types (APY/NPS Lite) | Eligibility, tiers, contribution caps, government benefits | Use comparison tables. Create flashcards for scheme features. Memorize through daily revision. |
| Annuity & Investment Basics | Types of annuity, pension calculator logic, PPA concepts | Practice numerical questions. Use topic-wise quizzes weekly to retain formulas. |
| Regulatory Framework | PFRDA Act, 2013, IRDAI & RBI roles in pension governance | Read and summarize annual PFRDA reports. Track recent policy changes or reforms. |
| State Statutes & Govt Schemes | OPS, NPS migration, legacy pension frameworks | Build a timeline of major scheme changes post-2004. Link current affairs to historical reforms. |
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Weekly Checklist & Tracking
To stay consistent and track your progress, use a weekly checklist. Here's how you can structure it:
Core Learning
- Completed scheduled Pension Sector topics for the week (e.g., NPS Architecture, CRA functions, etc.)
- Made short notes or flowcharts for each topic studied
- Created flashcards or summary sheets for memorization-heavy content (e.g., APY features, annuity types)
Current Affairs
- Read pension-sector-related news (PFRDA circulars, RBI, IRDAI updates)
- Highlighted important developments in a dedicated notebook or digital doc
- Reviewed & revised current affairs from the previous week
Practice
- Attempted 3–4 MCQ sets related to Pension Sector topics (daily or alternate days)
- Solved 1–2 descriptive questions or short notes from the week's subject area
- Practiced 1 sectional mock or mini quiz on Pension Sector
Revision
- Revised last week's notes or summaries
- Reviewed previous mock test mistakes and noted improvement areas
- Updated formula sheets (if applicable for investment or annuity calculations)
Optional Add-ons
- Participated in a discussion forum or peer group to clear doubts
- Watched 1–2 short videos/webinars on pension reforms or PFRDA updates
- Read one relevant section from PFRDA Annual Report or NPS Trust documents
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