The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority ( PFRDA ) has extended the one-time option to opt for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for Central Government employees who joined service between April 1, 2025, and August 31, 2025.
The UPS for eligible Central Government employees was notified by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, vide Notification No. F. No. FX-1/3/2024 PR dated 24.01.2025. The PFRDA is a regulatory body under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Opportunity to choose UPS till September 30, 2025
In view of the recent clarifications and developments in the scheme, the Central Government has now decided to extend the one-time option to join the Unified Pension Scheme to Central Government employees who joined service on or after April 1, 2025 and up to August 31, 2025 and have opted for the National Pension System (NPS). This option to join UPS can be exercised till September 30, 2025, in line with the earlier cut-off date for other eligible categories under UPS.
There is an option to switch to NPS even after choosing UPS.
This initiative aims to provide central government employees with informed choices in planning for their post-retirement financial security. By opting for UPS, employees can also choose to migrate to NPS later.
UPS was implemented across the country on April 1, 2025
UPS is a pension scheme launched by the Government of India, effective April 1, 2025. This scheme is available to central government employees as an option under the National Pension System (NPS). It is designed to provide assured, inflation-indexed, and adequate retirement benefits, addressing concerns about long-term financial security and pension predictability.
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