One-time switch option from NPS to the old pension scheme for central govt employees

One-time switch option from NPS to the old pension scheme for Central Government employees who got selected before 1st January 2004 but joined after 1st January 2004

The Narendra Modi Government has decided to give one-time switch option to the Central Government Employees to get coverage under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules 1972, in place of the National Pension System (NPS). This NPS to old pension switch is possible for those Central Government Employees who got selected before 1st January 2004 but joined after 1st January 2004. An Office Memorandum (OM) in this regard has been issued by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare under the Government of India. The memorandum gives an option to the above-mentioned central government employees to opt for the old pension scheme (OPS) instead of NPS.

The one-time switch option from NPS to the old pension scheme will only be for those Central Government employees whose selection for the appointment was finalised before 1st January 2004 but they joined Government service on or after 1st January 2004. The OM issued by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare under the Government of India makes it clear that subject to conditions, the one-time switch option would be available to only those Government employees who were declared successful for recruitment before 1st January 2004 against vacancies pertaining to the period prior to that date.

After the introduction of the National Pension System (NPS), all Government employees appointed on or after 1st January 2004 to the posts in the Central Government service (except armed forces) are mandatorily covered under NPS. The Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 and other connected rules were also amended and were not applicable to the Government employees appointed to Government service after 31st December 2003.

However, the Central Government had received representations from the Central Government employees appointed on or after 1st January 2004 requesting the benefit of the pension scheme under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972. Their request was on the ground that their appointment was delayed on account of administrative reasons or lapses.

As per the Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, the Narendra Modi Government has now decided that in all cases where the results for recruitment were declared before 1st January 2004 against vacancies occurring on or before 31st December 2003, the candidates declared successful for recruitment shall be eligible for coverage under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972.

Source: zeebiz