Frequently asked questionsfrom APY SPs on File Formats for Upgrade/Downgrade of pension amount:

A. General Queries on Upgrade/Downgrade process:

1. When can a subscriber request for change in pension amount?
Answer:A subscriber can request for change inpension amount only once in a yeari.e. in the month of
April. However, for this year (F.Y.-2016-2017), the pension amount can be changed in the month of
October.
2. Does the Subscriber need to submit any form for change in pension amount?
Answer: Yes, the subscriber has to submit a modification request form or the request letter to his APY
SP.
What is the criterion for change in pension amount?
Answer: Subscriber can request for change in pension amount only if the subscribers have
contributed regularly and all his previous contribution are matched & booked (means funds are
transferred and settled) till the last month. For Example: If the subscribers has requested for
change
in October month all contributions till September have to be credited in the account.before the request for
pension amount change is raised.
3.

4. Whether a bank has to calculate the amount to be recovered from customer or a view will be
provided by NSDL for differential amount?
Answer: There will be a view provided by NSDL to all APY SPs, where by inputting the few details; the
total differential amountpayable will be made available.
5. Whether the differential amount has recovered immediately or at the time of execution of
request in the CRA system?
Answer: On receipt of pension amount change request from subscriber, APY SP has to check the total
differential amount in the view provided by NSDL and recover/debit the amount. The APY SP has to
ensure that the request should be accepted only if there is a sufficient balance for recovery of
differential amount in his account to avoid any default.
6. In case of upgradation, the bank is allowed upload the contribution file with revised premium
immediately?
Answer: No, in case of upgradation, APY SP has to first upload the differential contribution file and
immediately transfer the funds. Once, the file gets matched & booked (means funds transferred and
settled), then only bank is allowed to upload the contribution file for revised premium.

7. What if the subscriber has defaulted on the differential premium and bank has uploaded the
subscriber modification (XML) request for pension amount change in the CRA system. Will
theAPY SPsbe allowed to upload the contribution file with a previous premium?
Answer: No, APY SP would not be able to upload a contribution file for such cases. Not even with the
previous premium. The APY SP has to ensure that differential amount should be collected first and the
differential contribution file should be matched & booked.

8. What if the subscribers comes with a request for pension amount change and claims that he is
ready to pay all his previous dues and accordingly bank upload a contribution file for that
subscriber with all its previous premium but the file is not matched & booked (not fully settled).
In this scenario, subscriber request for pension amount is allowed or not?
Answer: No, the criterion for pension amount change is that all previous contribution must be matched
&booked.
9. What if subscribers current month (October) contribution is deducted / uploaded/matched and
booked?
Answer: The pension amount change request would not be accepted in such cases.
10. The pension amount change request can be exercised only once in a month or it can be exercised
more than once during the month?
Answer: The change in pension amount request can be exercised only once in a year. Multiple requests
during the same month are not allowed.
11. How will the amount be refunded in case of downgrade in pension amount?
Answer: In case of downgrade, first the subscriber modification file (XML) will be uploaded by APY SP.
Thereafter, the amount would be refunded by NSDL-CRA (after completion of internal process) to
subscriber savings account available in NSDL-CRA records. The amount will be credited to the
subscribers saving account only if all details like IFSC code etc. are available.
12. Arechanges would take place immediately after uploading the subscriber modification file (XML)
for downgraded pension amount. Can the bank is allowed to upload a contribution file with new
pension amount immediately?
Answer:Yes, the changes wouldtakes place immediately after uploading the subscriber modification file
(XML). APY SPs can upload the regular contribution file with new premium amount immediately in the
CRA system for such cases.
13. Only pension amount can be upgraded/downgraded or Contribution frequency can also be
changed?
Answer:Currently, only the provision for pension amount upgrade /downgrade is provided.

14. In case of downgrade of pension amount, whether we need to calculate the differential amount
or not?
Answer:You dont need to calculate a differential amount. A view will be provided by NSDL-CRA where
you need to enter few details andthe new pension amount.
15. Is the contribution calculated as per current age or the age as on date of PRAN registration is
considered for Pension amount change request?
Answer:There is no need to calculate fresh age. The age as on the date of PRAN registration is taken as
a base for calculation of age.

16. In case of upgradation of pension amount, the differential amount would be computed since
registration of PRAN or from beginning of current FY. What is the logic adopted for deriving the
premium amount as per upgraded pension amount?
Answer: Date of registration is taken into consideration for computation of differential amount. Further,
for deriving the premium amount the logic is what would have been the premium, if the subscriber
would have opted for revised pension at the time of date of registration. Difference would be recovered
along with interest @ 8% (monthly compounding)For Example: Subscriberhad opted for APY for a
pension of Rs 1000 with a premium of Rs 42 per month (18 years, June 2015). However, subscribers wish
to change the pension to Rs 2000 today. In this case, the premium is derived as per 18 years (date of
registration) anddifference would be recovered along with interest @ 8% (monthly compounding).
17. In case of upgradation of pension amount, how the differential amount is calculated by NSDLCRA?
Answer: premium amount * 8% (monthly compounding) Table for calculation provided below as
Annexure for reference:

18. Will the revised premium be taken from existing premium chart or some other chart will be
provided?
Answer: The chart would remain same.

19. In case of any change in Pension amount,subscriber has to pay previous shortfalls till
previous month/quarter/half-year or amount for the same month/quarter/half-year has also
to be paid by the subscriber?
Answer: All previous contributions till the last month have to be paid.

B. Upgrade/Downgrade Request File format:

1. In case of upgrade/downgrade file (XML), Is there any limit of no of records that can be sent for
modification?
Answer: There is no limit on the number of records that can be entered in XML or for upload in CRA
system.
2. In case of upgrade/downgrade (XML), can I raise a request for other changes like email id,
address change or mobile number etc. along with pension amount change?
Answer:Any changes requested by the subscriber can be raised in a single file.
3. In case of upgrade/downgradefile (XML), if a file is rejected, how the identification can be done
about the problematic records?
Answer: When file gets rejected, an error response is generated which gives the details like line number
& error description. The APY SPs can identify the error through line number & error description and
make the changes accordingly.
4. In case of upgrade/downgradefile (XML), if any field is blank, then blank tag has to be sent or
tag should not be sent at all?
Answer: Blank tags in xml file are not allowed. In case, tags are given, it should be filled with proper
details.
5. Whether the upgrade/downgradefile (XML) & differential contribution file has to be uploaded
simultaneously?
Answer: First the subscriber modification files (XML) have to be uploaded and thereafter the differential
contribution file will be uploaded. Once, the said differential contribution file is matched and booked

(means funds are transferred and settled), then only the regular file with modified premium for
upgraded/downgrade pension will be allowed to be uploaded.
6. Links for uploading xml files on NSDL Portal. Any validation is required prior to uploading the
subscriber modification file?
Answer: No validation is required. The XML modification file is to be uploaded in www.npslitensdl.com>>>login>>>nodal office upload>>> upload. However, APY-SP should ensure the structural
validation while generating the file from APY module.

7. APY SP uploads the upgrade/downgradefor up-gradation/downgrade. Any response file would

be generated by NSDL system?
Answer: When the subscriber modification file (XML) is uploaded, CRA system shows the status as
Accepted. Along with the Accepted status, a response file will be generated, which will show along
with other details, the differential amount to be paid. However, if the file is rejected, an error response
file is generated mentioning the line number and error description.
8. In case of any error in the file, whole file would be rejected or partial acceptance is there?
Answer: The files will be accepted partially. For example: if APY SP has uploaded 10 records, out of
which 5 have errors. In this case, 5 would get accepted and the remaining other 5 would get rejected
and rejection response would be generatedAPY SP has to prepare the revised XML for these remaining
5 rejected PRANs with the required changes.

C. Upgrade/Downgrade Charges:
1. As mentioned in PFRDA circular the charges for exercising upgrade option will be Rs. 50/- and
this will be shared between Bank and CRA. Bank need to deduct the 50% i.e. Rs. 25/- and send
remaining amount along with differential amount to Trustee Bank/CRA?
Answer: Bank only needs to collect Rs. 25/- as bank charges. The remaining Rs. 25/- would be
deducted from subscriber PRAN account as CRA charges by NSDL-CRA.
2. Charges will be levied for both upgrade and downgrade of pension amount?
Answer: Yes, charges will be levied for both as mentioned above.
3. How to collect the charges from Subscriber, Cash or debiting subscribers account?
Answer: You may take charges upfront/debit from account as per Banks internal process.
4. As mentioned in PFRDA circular the charges for exercising upgrade option will be Rs. 50/- and
this will be shared between Bank and CRA. Bank need to deduct the 50% i.e. Rs. 25 and send
remaining amount along with differential amount to Trustee Bank?
Answer: Bank only needs to collect Rs 25/- as bank charges. The remaining Rs 25 would be deducted
from subscriber PRAN account as CRA charges by NSDL-CRA as per the billing cycle.
5. How to share the charges with CRA in case of downgrade of pension amount?
Answer: CRA charges will be deducted from subscribers APY PRAN as per the billing cycle.

Annexure-I
Calculation for differential amount (For reference only)
Pension of Rs. 1000 with monthly contribution of Rs. 95 effective from June'15.
Now opted for Rs. 3,000 pension and accordingly monthly contribution will change to Rs. 292.

Contribution for a Subscriber had opted

for Rs. 1000 pension
Contribution
Contribution Amt
Month
Jun-15
97
Jul-15
97
Aug-15
97
Sep-15
97
Oct-15
97
Nov-15
97
Dec-15
97
Jan-16
97
Feb-16
97
Mar-16
97
Apr-16
97
May-16
97
Jun-16
97
Jul-16
97
Aug-16
97
Sep-16
97
Oct-16
97
Nov-16
97
Dec-16
97
Jan-17
97
Feb-17
97
Mar-17
97
Apr-17
97
May-17
97
Jun-17
97
Jul-17
97
Aug-17
97
Sep-17
97
Oct-17
97
Nov-17
97
Dec-17
97
Jan-18
97
Feb-18
97
Mar-18
97
Apr-18
97
May-18
97
Total
3,492

Contribution for a Subscriber if had opted for

Rs. 3000 pension
Contribution Month
Contribution Amt
Jun-15
Jul-15
Aug-15
Sep-15
Oct-15
Nov-15
Dec-15
Jan-16
Feb-16
Mar-16
Apr-16
May-16
Jun-16
Jul-16
Aug-16
Sep-16
Oct-16
Nov-16
Dec-16
Jan-17
Feb-17
Mar-17
Apr-17
May-17
Jun-17
Jul-17
Aug-17
Sep-17
Oct-17
Nov-17
Dec-17
Jan-18
Feb-18
Mar-18
Apr-18
May-18
Total

292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
292
10,512

Contribution
Month
Jun-15
Jul-15
Aug-15
Sep-15
Oct-15
Nov-15
Dec-15
Jan-16
Feb-16
Mar-16
Apr-16
May-16
Jun-16
Jul-16
Aug-16
Sep-16
Oct-16
Nov-16
Dec-16
Jan-17
Feb-17
Mar-17
Apr-17
May-17
Jun-17
Jul-17
Aug-17
Sep-17
Oct-17
Nov-17
Dec-17
Jan-18
Feb-18
Mar-18
Apr-18
May-18

Years

In August
After 2 years

Diff of contribution
amount Rs.
(B-A)
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
7,020

Differential amount
3085.96
7957.13

Total amount for

calculating monthly
interest
196.30
393.91
592.83
793.09
994.67
1,197.61
1,401.89
1,607.54
1,814.55
2,022.95
2,232.74
2,443.92
2,656.51
2,870.52
3,085.96
3,302.83
3,521.15
3,740.93
3,962.17
4,184.88
4,409.08
4,634.77
4,861.97
5,090.69
5,320.92
5,552.70
5,786.01
6,020.89
6,257.33
6,495.34
6,734.94
6,976.14
7,218.95
7,463.38
7,709.43

Principle Amount to
be paid
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
195
7,020

Interest @ 8%
(monthly
compounding)
1.30
2.61
3.93
5.25
6.59
7.93
9.28
10.65
12.02
13.40
14.79
16.18
17.59
19.01
20.44
21.87
23.32
24.77
26.24
27.71
29.20
30.69
32.20
33.71
35.24
36.77
38.32
39.87
41.44
43.02
44.60
46.20
47.81
49.43
51.06
52.70
937.13

Total
Amount to
be paid

3085.96

7957.13