The Joint Conference on Pensions (JCP) invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) for papers and presentations from actuaries, academics, and industry professionals. Submissions should align with the conference theme with the aim to discuss various facets of establishing a scalable, sustainable, and equitable socio-economic framework to ensure sustainable, secure and adequate pensions for India's ageing population. Beyond retirement dignity, the conference serves as a global platform to share thought leadership, case studies, and practical insights on building successful, high-impact retirement systems.
Conference Tracks
Track 1 – Leveraging product innovation to vitalize pension adoption and establish a fully pensioned society for Viksit Bharat 2047
This track invites innovative product designs for contributory pension systems aimed at increasing adoption across India, including corporates as well as the informal and unorganized sectors, gig and platform workers, MSMEs, the self-employed, farmers, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and populations in the North-East. Contributions may explore multi-model pension systems and approaches to socio-economic targeting to expand coverage.
The concept of a fully pensioned society under Viksit Bharat 2047 envisions a robust and inclusive retirement savings ecosystem that is contributory, sustainable, and independent of Government support. Such a system should provide adequate, fair, and equitable pensions that enable the elderly population to live with dignity in old age.
Submissions may focus on designing inclusive and cost-effective pension products that improve outreach and participation, along with innovative investment approaches that enhance long-term sustainability and adequacy of retirement income. Strategies for expanding pension coverage may include developing multi-model pension frameworks, improving access for informal and vulnerable populations, strengthening investment design, and proposing administrative or policy reforms. The submissions may also include leveraging technology like Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning ( ML) and data analytics to achieve the outcomes outlined above.
Track 2 – Investment practices and asset mix for long-term horizons (30–60 years)
Innovative investment practices in the pension industry are increasingly driven by the need to identify and access new asset classes that can potentially deliver higher, stable, and sustainable returns over long-term, multi-decade horizons. Such horizons require investment strategies that not only enhance returns but also ensure resilience, predictability, and effective risk management across economic cycles. These extended timeframes are to be aligned with the nature of pension liabilities and future payout obligations.
Key innovative practices that merit deeper exploration include diversification into alternative asset classes such as private equity, infrastructure, and real assets. The integration of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors is also becoming central to aligning financial performance with long-term societal and environmental outcomes.
In addition, the adoption of advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) for data analytics, risk assessment, and portfolio optimization is transforming investment processes. Approaches such as Liability-Driven Investing (LDI), dynamic de-risking strategies, and life-cycling frameworks are gaining prominence in better matching assets with liabilities over time.
Increasingly, there is also a shift toward the customization of investment solutions and the development of hybrid models that combine multiple strategies to enhance flexibility, efficiency, and long-term portfolio robustness over both the accumulation and the decumulation phase.
Track 3 – Enhancing the contributory pension systems through flexible, predictable and assured deaccumulation options
This track invites research contributions and practitioner insights into the decumulation phase —balancing flexibility and predictability within Defined Contribution (DC) pension schemes. As individuals increasingly bear responsibility for managing retirement income, there is a growing need to design decumulation frameworks that move beyond static heuristics and one-size-fits-all approaches. We seek submissions that explore more adaptive, personalized strategies, including safe withdrawal approaches that are aligned with increasing longevity, evolving market conditions, and heterogeneous risk preferences.
Key themes for exploration include :
- Personalized and adaptive withdrawal strategies, such as age-appropriate safe withdrawal rates (SWR) that reflect modern longevity trends and economic volatility; dynamic “guardrail” strategies and spending rules; insights from behavioural economics, including the annuity puzzle and spending aversion; and the use of technology-enabled “smart drawdown” solutions to support better decision-making.
- Portfolio construction during the decumulation phase, focusing on optimal asset allocation frameworks that address sequence-of-returns risk; the application of liability-driven investment (LDI) principles at the individual level through safety and growth buckets; and the evolving role of alternative assets, including infrastructure, private credit, and other income-generating instruments.
- Innovative product design aimed at balancing income assurance with market-linked growth potential, including modern tontine structures, risk-sharing pools, Variable Longevity Income (VLI) solutions, and inflation-linked or real income products that enhance retirement income stability.
Overall, this track seeks to advance thinking on how contributory pension systems can better support sustainable, efficient, and user-centric decumulation pathways in an increasingly complex and uncertain retirement landscape.
Research scholarship
From the accepted set of papers, selected papers would be invited to make a presentation at the conference and awarded a research scholarship. Additionally, some more papers may be allowed to do Poster presentations during the conference.
Copyright
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI) jointly and severely retains the copyright of all submitted work, with non-exclusive rights to publish and disseminate the papers. Presentations will become the property of PFRDA and IAI jointly and severely, though the author/presenter remains personally responsible for the content and views expressed. Presentations will be published on the PFRDA & IAI website later. By submitting slides, presenters are deemed to have granted permission for their presentations to be published.
Submission Guidelines
Abstracts must be connected to the conference theme. EOI will be selected based on their merit, quality and appropriateness to the theme of conference.
- Presentations may be based on prior research but must not replicate content presented at other forums.
EOI must be submitted in English via the official IAI submission portal :
Click Here- Papers will undergo peer review by the JCP editorial committee / sub-group.
- Each presentation will be approximately 20–25 minutes
- A maximum of two presenters per paper is permitted
- Detailed presentation guidelines will be shared with selected authors
Based on the details provided in the EOI and acceptance of the Abstract after a selection process, the committee would be inviting detailed papers/ presentations on respective subject perceived to be of key importance for the event.
The presentations may be based on research work published or un-published but should not be exact repeat of any presentation/s already done in any other forum. Papers however should demonstrate original, unpublished research which will denote the original contribution of the author/s. This contribution will be a copyright assigned to PFRDA & IAI jointly and severely.
Presentation Details :
Submit your abstract here:
Click to Submit
Paper/Presentation Submission process & timelines (Refer detailed appendices)
Appendix I: Timelines (Starting from Wednesday, 1 April 2026)
| Submission of abstract and authors’ bio | By 1200 Hours IST, 18 April 2026 (Saturday, 3 weeks from start) |
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| Abstract Acceptance | By 1200 Hours IST, 25 April 2026 (Saturday, 1 week after abstract deadline) | Accepted abstracts will be notified, which indicates a go-ahead to write the paper. | |||||
| Complete paper submission | By 1200 Hours IST, 28 May 2026 (Thursday, 4 weeks after abstract acceptance) | The IAI expects research papers with an indicative length 3,000 to 10,000 words in line with the guidance provided in Appendix IV and a declaration that the paper is the original work of the author(s). | |||||
| Final Acceptance / Rejection of the paper after feedback and changes | By 1200 Hours IST, 15 June 2026 (Monday, 2.5 week after paper submission) | The JCP editorial committee / sub-group will provide a decision on the complete paper submitted. The final paper should be submitted after taking cognizance of feedback, if any. | |||||
| Invitation for Presentation and submission of the Presentations | By 1200 Hours IST, 20 June 2026 (Saturday, 1 week after acceptance) | For papers accepted, selected papers would be invited to make a presentation during the conference. A slide format would also be shared to present the paper in a standard power point format. A deck of slides of the paper to be presented at the conference should also be provided in the standard power point format (ideally one, maximum two presenters for not over 25 minutes) along with speaker’s photograph and updated profile. |
Appendix II: Biography
| Professional Details |
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| Work Experience: | Outline of your background and relevant work experience (in maximum of 500 words). | ||||||||
| Recent public presentation | Details of presentations made at conferences during the last three years. | ||||||||
| Contact Details |
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Appendix III: Summary outline of presentation
| Area | Presentation information |
|---|---|
| Title of presentation | Add the title of presentation. |
| Track | Specify the Track |
| Abstract submission | Submit the Abstract (in 250 words) |
| Time span of presentation | 20-30 minutes; max two presenters per session |
| Co-speaker (if any) | Max two presenters; provide details as per Appendix II |
Appendix IV: Guidelines for Paper submission:
Click HereContact for Submissions
Ms. Binita Rautela
General Manager, Institute of Actuaries of India
Email : binita@actuariesindia.org