The government had provided the option to migrate from NPS to OPS under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) to such employees who joined the Central Government services for posts advertised or notified before December 22, 2003. Had happened. Let us know about it in detail.
Apart from its serving employees, the Central Government has also given an opportunity to retired employees to leave NPS and join the old pension scheme. Questions for such clarifications were coming to the ‘Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare’ under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions of the Government of India. The department says that employees and retired persons fulfilling certain specific conditions can join the old pension system from NPS.
The government had provided the option to migrate from NPS to OPS under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) to such employees who joined the Central Government services for posts advertised or notified before December 22, 2003. Had happened. Such employees were given time till August 31 to choose one option.
These orders were issued in March 2023. There were some employees who retired before the said order. Now he has asked whether he will also get the option to join OPS from NPS after his retirement. The government has said that they can also come in OPS. Provided that they have to fulfill certain conditions.
The recruitment process was completed before 22 December 2003.
Those Central Government employees who joined Government service on or after January 1, 2004, but their recruitment process was completed before the said date. This included all the formalities from advertisement of posts to recruitment.
Due to some reasons, such employees had joined service after January 2004. The final result of those employees had already come before NPS was implemented on 22 December 2003, but they got joining after 1 January 2004.
In such a situation, he could not get the benefit of his old pension. He was included in NPS. A large number of requests were received from central employees for extension of pension scheme benefits under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021).
The workers took refuge in the High Courts and Central Administrative Tribunals. From there, when decisions were taken in their favor, the Central Government provided the option to all those personnel to join OPS on 3 March 2023. For this, employees had to give their option by 31st August.
One time option given to employees
The government orders said the matter has been examined in consultation with the Department of Financial Services, Department of Personnel and Training, Department of Expenditure and Department of Legal Affairs in the light of various representations/references and court decisions in this regard. Subsequently, it has now been decided that in all cases where a Central Government civil servant has been appointed against a vacant post.
His recruitment process was completed before the date of notification issued for the National Pension System ‘NPS’ i.e. 22nd December, 2003, but the joining took place on or after 1st January, 2004, all those personnel will be eligible to join the Central Civil Services (Pension ) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), a one-time option has been given.
If employees do not exercise this option by the prescribed date, they will continue to be covered by the National Pension System. If the government employee fulfills the conditions of coverage under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), necessary orders in this regard will be issued by October 31, 2023.
Now retired people will get this facility
An office memorandum in this regard has been issued by the Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare Department on October 20. It said that some central employees, who have now retired, have asked whether they can also join OPS. Will the said order also apply to those people who had already retired before this order came?
That means his retirement took place before March 3, 2023. In this regard, the Pension and Pensioners Welfare Department says, yes they can also use the above option. Here such personnel will have to follow certain conditions. Like if he has taken all the benefits of NPS on retirement, then it will have to be returned. They can avail the benefit of OPS only if they return the money received from NPS on retirement.
