In an era dominated by stock market investing and cryptocurrency, 45-year-old Naresh Bhardwaj has taken a different path toward financial independence. Over the past two decades, he has invested consistently in only two government-backed schemes—the Public Provident Fund (PPF) and the National Pension System (NPS).
According to his projections, Bhardwaj expects to accumulate a retirement corpus of more than ₹3 crore by 2031, when he turns 50. His plan includes over ₹1 crore in PPF savings and around ₹2.15 crore in NPS, with the latter expected to provide a monthly pension of approximately ₹1 lakh through an annuity after early retirement. These figures are based on his assumptions about future returns and prevailing rules.
His financial journey highlights the power of long-term discipline, regular contributions, and simple investment strategies over chasing high-risk assets. While experts note that returns are never guaranteed and retirement planning should be tailored to individual circumstances, his story has sparked discussions on whether government-backed schemes alone can be sufficient for building long-term wealth.
