A group of central government employees have been offered the opportunity to choose the old pension plan once, which is a significant development.
According to the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, employees who joined the central government services in response to positions advertised or announced before December 22, 2003, the day the National Pension System (NPS) was notified, are entitled to join the previous pension system (now 2021).
The affected public servants may utilise this option no later than August 31, 2023. According to the statement, the action followed several representations, references, and judicial rulings in this area.
“Representations have been received…from the government servants appointed on or after 01.01.2004 requesting for extending the benefit of the pension scheme under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) on the ground that their appointment was made against the posts/vacancies advertised/notified for recruitment prior to notification for National Pension System, referring to court judgments of various Hon’ble High Courts and Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunals allowing such benefits to applicants,” the order stated.
“It has now been decided that, in all cases where the central government civil employee has been appointed against a post or vacancy which was advertised/ notified for recruitment/appointment, prior to the date of notification for National Pension System i.e. 22.12.2003 and is covered under the National Pension System on joining service on or after 01.01.2004, may be given a one-time option to be covered under the CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021),” the order added.
Those government servants who are eligible to exercise option, “but who do not exercise this option by the stipulated date”, shall continue to be covered by the National Pension System, it added. The option once exercised shall be final, the order said.
Depending on the choice selected by the government employee, the issue of coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (currently 2021), shall be brought before the appointing authority.
If the government worker meets the criteria for coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (currently 2021), it stated that the necessary order in this regard must be issued at the earliest by October 31, 2023.
So, starting on December 31, 2023, such government employees’ NPS accounts will be closed.
More than 14 lakh employees of the federal and state governments are represented by the National Movement for Old Pension System (NMOPS), which has welcomed the government’s choice.
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