Published Paper Details:

The performance of India's equity-based Tier-1 National Pension Schemes (NPS) is assessed in this study for the years 2018 through 2022. It examines the market correlations, risk management, and financial returns of the best-performing pension fund managers using secondary data. The results show that returns have increased significantly for all listed managers, with LIC leading the way and HDFC, Kotak, UTI, and ICICI following. All managers had positive Sharpe ratios, which show returns over the risk-free rate in relation to expected risk, despite their differing levels of success. Based on its highest Treynor ratio, Kotak was the greatest performer in terms of risk-adjusted returns per unit of systematic risk. Nonetheless, weak positive correlations were found with the S&P 500 index, indicating a restricted degree of linkage with market movements. The research highlights the significance of continuous observation and recommends implementing effective tactics, such as risk optimization and diversification, that have been seen in top-performing managers. It also urges more study to overcome shortcomings and improve comprehension of equity-based pension plans in India. The present study provides significant perspectives for investors and policymakers, hence facilitating the progress of retirement planning and financial security in India.