Best card for NPS Contribution

[Waynoway]

Last update: 11-01-2025

• HDFC : Milestone benefits only ✅
• HSBC Cashback: 0% ✅
• AMEX Gold Charge: 1 MR/50 + Milestone benefits ✅
• AMEX SmartEarn/ MRCC/Platinum Travel: Milestone benefits only ✅
• AU Zenith: Milestone benefits only ✅
• AU Zenith+: 1% + Milestone benefits ✅
• SC Smart: 2% ✅
• SC Ultimate: 2% (Govt. transaction) ✅
• ICICI AmazonPay: 1%
• Yes Marquee: 1.25% (Special MCC) ✅

Note: Mostly other cards from same bank works with varied reward rate and similar rule of exclusion.

For NPS payments MCC: 9399 (Govt. Services)

Do check both payment gateways Razorpay and Billdesk (above values are according to Billdesk gateway).

Also, do share missing cards rewards that you tried, will update accordingly.

PG Charges (with GST) on NPS website/app:

• VISA, Mastercard & AMEX = 0.885% (0.75% + GST)

Note: Above are for TIER 1. TIER 2 disabled credit card payments (based on latest available options).

If in doubt, always try test transaction and confirm with support. Things may chage any time, proceed with caution.

 

[vsharma]

But you always pay 0.75%+ gst extra as convenience fee

That's correct, but I get to use this card too. I am not using this card for any other purpose

 

[helloworld]

Thread 'AU NPS & Insurance Offer'

Dec 6, 2024

• Offer Period: 05 Dec’24 to 31 Jan’25
• Applicable cards: All AU Credit Cards

---

Offer for Reward Cards:

Spend Range​	Bonus Reward Points for Insurance​	+ Reward % (addition to base rewards)​	Bonus Reward Points for NPS​	Reward % (addition to base rewards)​
10K - 30K	500	+ 1%	1000	+ 2%
30K - 50K	1000	+ 0.67%	2000 (30K and above)	+ 1.3%
50K -...

• helloworld
• Replies: 23
• Forum: Credit Card Offers

: )

 

[jeevanreddy58]

I have used Idfc First Select CC for NPS 30k payment. which will give targetted milestone benefit of 5k points for 30k spends ends today... also IDFC CC gives 0.5% return on Govt transaction. hopefully i get points as per my expectation..

 

[Sudbht]

I have used Idfc First Select CC for NPS 30k payment. which will give targetted milestone benefit of 5k points for 30k spends ends today... also IDFC CC gives 0.5% return on Govt transaction. hopefully i get points as per my expectation..

Did you receive normal 0.5% points on Govt transaction?

 

[jeevanreddy58]

Did you receive normal 0.5% points on Govt transaction?

Yes.. received... got around 607 reward points for 30338 spends.. received 3X

3 RPs for 150

 

[Sudbht]

Yes.. received... got around 607 reward points for 30338 spends.. received 3X

3 RPs for 150

So it's limited to 3X right on govt spends? Also does APAY Icici still gives 1% on gvt spends?

 

[jeevanreddy58]

So it's limited to 3X right on govt spends? Also does APAY Icici still gives 1% on gvt spends?

yes.. it was 10X earlier.. but now 3X on Gov spends..

 

[Dreamer]

I have used Idfc First Select CC for NPS 30k payment. which will give targetted milestone benefit of 5k points for 30k spends ends today... also IDFC CC gives 0.5% return on Govt transaction. hopefully i get points as per my expectation..

Can anyone confirm which one would be more beneficial for NPS 50k payment:

IDFC wealth CC (0.5%?)
IDFC wealth DC (can be used for CC payment 2.5%)
amazonpay icici (1%)
amex plat travel(need milestone benefit) ?

Or any other super premium cards (m4b,dcb,)

 

[Random123]

To iterater again, AMEX cards are never meant for 1MR/50 but the milestone benefits. Compared to regular rewards, milestone has higher reward % in AMEX and people should apply these cards only if those achieve them. Otherwise no use them. And do not loose better benefits by seeing no regular rewards, where you'll loose better returns.

Ex: Assuming 1MR = 0.30p

two options:
1 - If provided regular reward 0.6%
2 - If achieved milestone 6%

I personally aim for 2nd one and consider 1st as optional and doesn't mind if not provided because that is only extra 0.6%. But if you care 0.6% then you'll loose 6%.

Note: This applicable only for AMEX cards. In other banks regular reward rate is higher compared to milestone which is very low %.

SmartEarn: Not recommended but 4 milestone opportunities, not a good card but if you want low fee waiver and can spend 1.2L
MRCC: Reccommend if one can spend 1.5L and fee waiver option
Gold: Not recommended but can spend 6k per month and negotiate fee at the renewal to keep those earnings
Travel: Recommended for 4L
Reserv: Recommended depends on requirement for 50k per month spends
Platinum: Well, if one applied this card IMO shouldn't worry about rewards in their D2D

Thanks for the opinion. On side note, do you know if amex plat charge also give base reward points for government transactions ?

 

[_deb_]

Added Yes Marquee and Amex Platinum Travel

 

[sousnake]

Can anyone confirm which one would be more beneficial for NPS 50k payment:

IDFC wealth CC (0.5%?)
IDFC wealth DC (can be used for CC payment 2.5%)
amazonpay icici (1%)
amex plat travel(need milestone benefit) ?

Or any other super premium cards (m4b,dcb,)

I would suggest amex plat travel for milestone benefit.

 

[Dreamer]

I would suggest amex plat travel for milestone benefit.

Will do . Thanks

 

[350modena]

I would suggest amex plat travel for milestone benefit.

There is a PG charge for all cards - but yes amex will give milestone benefits. I think amex gold gives base points as well

 

[jeevanreddy58]

Added Yes Marquee and Amex Platinum Travel

How abt idfc dc

 

[_deb_]

How abt idfc dc

I don’t have it … not aware of the features. You can update the wiki if you know.

 

[its_karan]

Amazon ICICI is getting 1%

Date:: 15.01.2024

 

[srinath4ever]

NPS via Amex qualified for Milestone Reward points?

 

[CCFan12]

NPS via Amex qualified for Milestone Reward points?

Yes it is

 

[sousnake]

NPS via Amex qualified for Milestone Reward points?

Yes both mrcc and plat travel.
For gold card you get both milestone and normal points.

 

[S9100]

Yes both mrcc and plat travel.
For gold card you get both milestone and normal points.

What about platinum charge?