The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for Central Government employees came into effect on April 1, 2025, as an option under the National Pension System (NPS). The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has issued regulations for its implementation, covering three categories of employees:
- Existing central government employees under NPS as of April 1, 2025.
- New recruits joining the service on or after April 1, 2025.
- Retired employees under NPS who retired on or before April 30, 2025, through regular or voluntary retirement.
Approximately 23 lakh employees are expected to benefit from the scheme. Employees who joined on or after January 1, 2004, can choose to switch from NPS to UPS. Eligible employees can enroll and submit claims through the Protean CRA portal starting April 1.
The UPS offers 50% of the average basic pay drawn in the last 12 months before retirement, provided the employee has completed a minimum of 25 years of service. In the case of the employee’s demise, the family will receive 60% of the pension. The scheme also guarantees a minimum pension of ₹10,000 per month for those with at least 10 years of service.
