How much retirement corpus is needed in India: Step-by-step guide

Retirement planning in India isn’t a puzzle for actuaries; it’s everyday maths done with discipline and the right assumptions, like planning a long train journey with enough snacks, water, and a backup plan for delays. And the single most useful skill is learning to calculate the retirement corpus needed, so investments can be aligned early and reviewed often for a worry-free retired life. 

What “corpus” really means 

Retirement corpus is the total wealth required at retirement to fund annual expenses for the full retired life, after accounting for inflation and the return earned on the corpus. Think of it as the orchard that must yield enough fruit each year without cutting down the trees. 

The 5-variable framework 

Use five inputs to estimate with confidence: 

• Current monthly expenses that will continue in retirement. 

• Years to retirement. 

• Inflation rate before and after retirement. 

• Expected portfolio return after retirement. 

• Years in retirement (life expectancy, plan for at least 90). 

Set practical defaults if unsure: inflation 6%, post-retirement return 7–9% for a balanced allocation, years in retirement 30. Conservative inputs build safety. 

Two reliable methods 

There are two easy ways to estimate the corpus. Choose one and stick to it for consistency. 

Method A: 4% rule shortcut 

• Step 1: Inflate current monthly expenses to the retirement year. 

• Formula: Future monthly expense = Current expense × (1 + inflation)ⁿ, where n = years to retirement. 

• Step 2: Annualise that figure. 

• Step 3: Divide by a 4% withdrawal rate. 

• Corpus ≈ Annual expense at retirement ÷ 0.04. 

• When it works best: For conservative planners who want simplicity and safety cushion. 

Method B: Real-return annuity method 

• Step 1: Inflate expenses to retirement year. 

• Step 2: Compute real return = post-retirement return − post-retirement inflation. 

• Step 3: Use the annuity present value formula: 

• Corpus ≈ Annual expense × [1 − (1 + r) ^(−N)] ÷ r 

• Where r = real return, N = years in retirement. 
• When it works best: When fine-tuning based on realistic returns and time horizon. 

A worked example (urban household) 

• Current monthly expense: ₹60,000 

• Years to retirement: 22 

• Inflation: 6% 

• Post-retirement return: 8% 

• Years in retirement: 30 

1. Inflate expenses: ₹60,000 × (1.06)^22 ≈ ₹2.13 lakh per month at retirement. 

2. Annualise: ₹2.13 lakh × 12 ≈ ₹25.6 lakh per year. 

3. Real return r = 8% − 6% = 2% = 0.02. 

4. Present value factor = [1 − (1.02)^(−30)] ÷ 0.02 ≈ 22.4. 

5. Corpus ≈ ₹25.6 lakh × 22.4 ≈ ₹5.7 crore. 

Using the 4% rule, corpus ≈ ₹25.6 lakh ÷ 0.04 ≈ ₹6.4 crore. Notice the 4% rule gives a higher target, which is a healthy buffer. 

Adjustments that matter 

• Home loan ends before retirement: Reduce the expense base by EMIs. 

• Health costs: Add a separate line for medical premiums and out-of-pocket care, then inflate it at a slightly higher rate (say 8%). 

• Spouse age gap: Extend years in retirement to the younger spouse’s age 90–95. 

• Goal spikes: Budget one-time spends (child’s wedding support, vehicle change) and add them as lump sums in the first 10 retirement years. 

• Safety reserve: Keep 18–24 months of expenses in liquid/overnight funds for sequence-of-returns protection. 

Tax and post-retirement cash flows 

• Taxation lowers net withdrawals, so gross up annual expenses if falling into a tax slab. 

• Use efficient income streams: SWP from debt/equity funds, tax-free interest up to limits, and laddered SCSS/PMVVY/FDs for near-term certainty. 

• Avoid selling growth assets during market drawdowns by maintaining a 3-bucket structure. 

The 3-bucket drawdown structure 

• Bucket 1: 1–3 years expenses in liquid/ultra-short funds. 

• Bucket 2: 3–7 years in high-quality short/intermediate debt. 

• Bucket 3: 7+ years in diversified equity and equity-oriented hybrid for growth. 
  Replenish Bucket 1 annually from gains in Buckets 2 and 3 in good years, and lean on Bucket 1–2 during weak markets. This reduces the risk of outliving the corpus. 

Asset allocation glidepath 

• Accumulation years: Higher equity (60–80%) with factor tilt to quality and flexi-cap for India growth. 

• Transition window (last 5 years pre-retirement): Gradually derisk towards 45–55% equity. 

• Retirement years: 35–55% equity depending on risk capacity and income stability, reviewed annually. 
  This helps keep the real return positive so purchasing power is protected. 

Common mistakes to avoid 

• Using current expenses without adjusting for inflation. 
• Assuming constant returns; plan for range-bound outcomes. 
• Ignoring longevity risk; plan till 90–95. 
• No emergency buffer, which forces selling at market lows. 
• One-and-done plan; the right practice is annual review. 

Quick calculator-style template 

Inputs: Current monthly expense, years to retirement, inflation, expected post-retirement return, years in retirement. 

Steps: 

• Future monthly expense = Current × (1 + inflation)ⁿ 
• Annual expense = Step 1 × 12 
• Real return r = post-ret return − post-ret inflation 
• Corpus = Annual expense × [1 − (1 + r)^(−N)] ÷ r 
• Sensitivity: Re-run with ±1–2% on inflation and returns to set a range. 

Use this template in a spreadsheet and save three scenarios: base, optimistic, conservative. And set the SIP and asset mix needed to reach the base case, aiming to overshoot. 

How to put this to work 

• Translate the target corpus into monthly SIPs across diversified equity funds, target maturity or roll-down debt, and NPS Tier I for tax efficiency. 

• Review yearly: if expenses rise faster, top-up SIPs by 10–15% each year; if markets compound better, lock gains into Bucket 2. 

The aim is to safeguard lifestyle, not chase returns blindly. So plan for a real return of 1.5–2.5%, use buckets to manage sequence risk, and systematise rebalancing. And stay invested through full cycles because time in the market and rising Indian earnings power are the strongest allies. 

To sum up, pick a method, run the numbers, and set an asset plan that can deliver a small but positive real return for three decades. And start now, so compounding and rising SIPs do the heavy lifting. A simple sheet with the formulas above helps make smarter monthly decisions, and a yearly review keeps the plan current.