Central government employees who retired under the National Pension System (NPS) with at least 10 years of qualifying service can now claim additional benefits through the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
This provision applies to employees who have retired on or before March 31, 2025, and extends to their spouses as well.
The UPS is aimed at supplementing the existing benefits under NPS. The deadline to avail of the scheme is June 30, 2025. This scheme was introduced by the finance ministry and offers both a lump sum payout and a monthly pension enhancement.
To claim benefits under the Unified Pension Scheme, central government retirees must meet the following conditions:
The scheme also extends the option to the spouse of the retiree in eligible cases.
Read More: NPS Reforms 2025: 6 Big Changes You Should Know About!
The Unified Pension Scheme introduces a dual-benefit model for retirees under NPS:
These features are intended to provide a more stable and predictable post-retirement income for central government employees.
One of the core promises of the Unified Pension Scheme is the provision of an assured pension. As per the government notification:
This model stands in contrast to the market-linked returns of the existing NPS, aiming to offer more certainty in pension disbursement.
The Unified Pension Scheme is specifically available to central government employees who:
The scheme came into effect on January 1, 2004, and currently extends the option to approximately 23 lakh government employees across various departments.
Eligible individuals must submit their option to switch to the Unified Pension Scheme by June 30, 2025. This timeline is crucial for those who wish to receive the additional benefits available under the scheme.
The Unified Pension Scheme offers central government retirees under NPS additional benefits, including a lump sum and a monthly top-up. Eligible employees and their spouses must opt in by June 30, 2025, to receive these enhanced pension benefits.
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Published on: Jun 2, 2025, 5:45 PM IST
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