NPS to OPS: Government clarifies – No proposal under consideration to restore Old Pension Scheme
केन्द्र सरकार ने विगत 11 अगस्त 2025 को लोकसभा में पूछे गए एक तारांकित प्रश्न के उत्तर में स्पष्ट किया है कि वर्तमान में केंद्र सरकार के कर्मचारियों के लिए पुरानी पेंशन योजना (OPS) को बहाल करने का कोई प्रस्ताव विचाराधीन नहीं है। सरकार की ओर से वित्तमंत्री श्रीमती निर्मला सीतारमण ने यह भी कहा कि OPS को राजकोष पर बढ़ते बोझ के कारण बंद किया गया था और 1 जनवरी 2004 से नई नियुक्तियों के लिए राष्ट्रीय पेंशन प्रणाली (NPS) लागू की गई थी। कर्मचारियों की पेंशन संबंधी चिंताओं को ध्यान में रखते हुए, एक उच्च स्तरीय समिति की सिफारिशों पर यूनिफाइड पेंशन स्कीम (UPS) को 24 जनवरी 2025 को NPS के अंतर्गत एक विकल्प के रूप में लागू किया गया है। UPS के तहत न्यूनतम 25 वर्ष की सेवा पर सेवानिवृत्ति के समय अंतिम 12 महीनों के औसत मूल वेतन का 50% निश्चित पेंशन के रूप में मिलेगा। कम सेवा अवधि पर अनुपातिक लाभ मिलेगा। सेवा के दौरान मृत्यु या अयोग्यता की स्थिति में CCS नियमों के तहत लाभ मिलेंगे।
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
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LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *308
ANSWERED ON MONDAY, 11 AUGUST, 2025/ SRAVANA 20, 1947 (SAKA)
RESTORATION OF OLD PENSION SCHEME
*308. SHRI SUDAMA PRASAD
SHRI UTKARSH VERMA MADHUR
Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the reasons for introducing UPS;
(b) whether the Government is aware about the non-feasibility of the New Pension Scheme and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the reasons for excluding unemployed son, unmarried/widowed/divorced daughter and dependent parents from the definition of family in UPS; and
(d) the reasons for the reduced pension in UPS as compared to OPS and the declaration of UPS only through a Press release?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE
(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)
(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *308 REGARDING “RESTORATION OF OLD PENSION SCHEME” RAISED BY SHRI SUDAMA PRASAD AND SHRI UTKARSH VERMA MADHUR, ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025.
(a) to (c) There is no proposal under consideration of the Government of India for restoration of Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in respect of Central Government employees covered under National Pension System (NPS). The Government had moved away from OPS due to its unsustainable fiscal liability on the Government exchequer. NPS is a defined contribution-based scheme which was introduced for Central Government employees (except armed forces) joining service on or after 01.01.2004. With a view of improving upon the pensionary benefits for such employees, a Committee was constituted under the chairpersonship of the then Finance Secretary to suggest measures to modify the NPS. Based on the deliberations of the Committee with stakeholders, Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) has been introduced as an option under NPS with the objective of providing defined benefits after retirement to the Central Government employees covered under the NPS.
The features of UPS including the definition of family have been designed in such a way so as to ensure payment of assured payouts while also maintaining fiscal sustainability of the fund. Further, the Government employees who opt for UPS under NPS shall also be eligible for option for availing benefits under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 or the CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, 2023, in the event of death of the Government servant during service or his discharge on the ground of invalidation or disablement.
(d) UPS has been introduced through a notification by the Government on 24.01.2025, as an option under NPS. Under UPS, assured payout is admissible on retirement @ 50% of twelve monthly average basic pay, immediately prior to retirement after a minimum 25 years of qualifying service. In case of lesser qualifying service period, proportionate payout would be admissible.
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