National Pension System (NPS) can help you ensure a healthy sum of monthly pension post-retirement. The key, however, is to start investing as early as possible. Suppose you start investing in the NPS at the age of 30 with the goal of getting Rs 50,000 pension per month post-retirement at the age of 60. Here's how much you will have to invest.

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SBI Pension's online calculator shows, you will have to invest Rs 6500 per month for a pension of Rs 51,455 per month at an expected annual rate of return of 8%. You may also get to withdraw Rs 19,29,596 as a lump sum.

For investing Rs 6500 per month, you will have to save around Rs 216 per day (Rs 216x30 = 6480).

By investing Rs 10,000 per month, you may get a monthly pension of Rs 79,162. 

*Source: SBI Pension

If you start investing early, say at the age of 25, you may have to invest just Rs 4150 (or around Rs 139x30) per month) for a pension of Rs 50,452 per month at an annual interest of 8%.

The maximum amount you can invest in NPS is Rs 1.5 lakh per year. The NPS contributions also qualify for Income tax benefits.

NPS is regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The regulating body defines NPS as "a contributory pension system which was initially (from 1st January 2004) introduced for the government employees and later rolled out for all citizens of India from May 1, 2009."

An Indian citizen aged 18 to 65 years can join the NPS.

Under NPS, all subscribers are identified through a unique Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN). NPS rules also allow an early exit from the scheme to subscribers.