The central government has extended two additional investment choices under the National Pension System (NPS) to employees of Central Autonomous Bodies (CABs) covered under the NPS scheme.The two new choices that were earlier extended to central government employees covered under the NPS are- Aggressive Life Cycle Fund (LC-75) now named as LC-75-HighBalanced Life Cycle Fund (BLC) now named as Aggressive Life Cycle FundNow, the same options will be available to NPS subscribers from central autonomous bodies.The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, in an Office Memorandum (OM) issued on July 1, 2026, said that extending the applicability of an earlier notification issued by the Department of Financial Services on November 13, 2025. The said notification had earlier introduced the additional investment choices, namely the Aggressive Life Cycle Fund (LC-75) and the Balanced Life Cycle Fund (BLC), for central government employees covered under the NPS. These investment options have now been extended to NPS subscribers employed in CABs.Which two additional NPS investment choices will now be available to CAB employees?Employees of central autonomous bodies covered under the NPS can now opt for the following investment choices:1. LC-75-High (Earlier known as Aggressive Life Cycle Fund)This is an investment option with equity exposure of up to 75%, designed for subscribers seeking higher growth potential over the long term.2. Aggressive Life Cycle Fund (Earlier known as Balanced Life Cycle Fund)Under this investment option, the equity exposure is capped at 50%, with gradual reduction in equity allocation beginning from the age of 45 years, offering a balanced approach between growth and stability.Why has the government introduced these options for CAB employees?According to the government, the extension of these investment choices aims to provide greater flexibility to NPS subscribers in Central Autonomous Bodies, enabling them to align their pension investments with their individual risk appetite, financial goals, and retirement planning requirements.These options further strengthen subscriber choice and enhance the attractiveness of National Pension System for employees covered under the NPS across Central Autonomous Bodies.What is an Auto Choice in NPS?For subscribers who prefer not to manage their investments, NPS offers an Auto Choice. This option invests NPS contributions in a life cycle fund, where allocation across asset classes changes with the subscriber's age.Types of auto choice funds• Life Cycle 25 – Low (5E/55Y)• Life Cycle 50 – Moderate (10E/55Y)• Life Cycle 75 – High (15E/55Y)• Life Cycle – Aggressive (35E/55Y) (formerly Balanced Life Cycle Fund)