Retirement product purchases on Pensionbazaar rose more than 50% in September 2026 compared with April, according to the platform's analysis. The shift suggests that retirement planning is increasingly becoming part of financial decisions during the working years, rather than being postponed until people approach retirement. The preference for regular contributions is also growing, with 80% of buyers opting to contribute monthly in September, against around 40% in January 2026. As reported by Pensionbazaar, consumers were increasingly starting retirement planning during their prime earning years, with monthly contributions becoming the preferred approach.
Consumers aged 26-50 accounted for 75.5% of retirement product buyers on Pensionbazaar, with those aged 36-50 making up 38% of buyers. Another 16% of buyers were aged 25 or below, suggesting that retirement planning is beginning relatively early for a section of consumers. Those aged 51-60 accounted for 8%, while buyers above 60 represented just 0.5%. For younger earners, retirement planning must compete with other priorities including buying a home, children's education and repaying loans. Setting aside a manageable amount regularly can help them balance these commitments with long-term savings, particularly for people with limited disposable income.
The income profile of buyers indicates participation across earning groups, with consumers earning below ₹5 lakh annually accounting for 35% of purchases, matching the share of those earning above ₹10 lakh. Those earning between ₹5 lakh and ₹10 lakh represented the remaining 30%. According to Pensionbazaar data, Tier II and Tier III cities together accounted for 60% of purchases, with Tier II cities contributing 35% and Tier III cities 25%. This distribution points to demand beyond the country's largest urban centres, with digital platforms making it easier for consumers in smaller cities to access financial product information. The figures reflect purchases on Pensionbazaar and do not establish the overall share of retirement planning across different city categories in India.
Women accounted for 15% of retirement product purchases, compared with 85% for men, according to the analysis. The gap indicates scope for greater participation in retirement planning, with independent retirement savings being particularly important for women who take career breaks, have interrupted earnings or need to plan for a longer retirement period. Self-employed consumers represented 30% of buyers, while salaried individuals accounted for 65% and homemakers made up the remaining 5%. The self-employed share is notable because people running businesses or working independently may not have access to employer-linked retirement benefits, requiring them to build their retirement corpus through their own savings and investments.
Regular retirement plans accounted for 90% of purchases, while child-focused plans made up 10%. Monthly contributions allow savers to spread their investments over time instead of setting aside a large amount at once, making retirement planning easier to fit into household budgets. Annual contributions and lump-sum payments together accounted for the remaining 20% of purchases in September, with each representing 10%. The approach resembles systematic investment plans (SIPs) under which investors put money into mutual funds at regular intervals, though the suitability of retirement products depends on their features, costs, investment risks and withdrawal conditions. Consumers should assess how much they can afford to save after accounting for essential expenses, emergency savings and existing financial obligations.
