FM Nirmala Sitharaman says over 31,500 government employees opted for UPS till July 20

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:25:00 +0000

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during a debate in the Lok Sabha.
| Photo Credit: PTI

As many as 31,555 Central Government employees have opted for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) till July 20, 2025, and the last date to enrol under the scheme is September 30, 2025, the Parliament was informed on Monday (July 28, 2025.)

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said as on July 20, 2025, at least 7,253 claims have been received and out of which 4,978 claims have been processed for payment of benefits under UPS.

Editorial | Middle path: On the Unified Pension Scheme

From April 1, 2025, the government has introduced UPS as an option under the National Pension System (NPS) for the Central Government employees. The UPS will provide assured payouts to the employees.

In reply to a separate question in the House, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said, “as on July 20, 2025, 31,555 employees have opted UPS.”

Further, Ms. Sitharaman said based on the representations from employees and associations, the cut-off date to opt for UPS was extended for a period of three months up to September 30, 2025.

Centre finally notifies Unified Pension scheme option for government staff covered by NPS

“As per eligibility criteria, there are 25,756 retired Central Government subscribers eligible to receive additional benefits under UPS,” Ms. Sitharaman said.

“These eligible subscribers are those Central Government employees who have either superannuated or deceased, or retired under Fundamental Rules 56(j), on or before March 31, 2025, after completing 10 years or more of qualifying service and were covered under NPS,” the Minister said.

The government has extended the benefit of ‘Retirement gratuity and Death gratuity’ under UPS. Further, the government employees who opt for the UPS under NPS shall also be eligible for option for availing benefits under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 or the CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, 2023, in the event of death of the government servant during service or his discharge on the ground of invalidation or disablement.

The government has also extended tax benefits to UPS as are available to NPS under the Income Tax Act, 1961.

To a question on whether the government proposes to extend such benefits to other pension schemes or sectors in the near future, Ms. Sitharaman said, “UPS has been introduced as an option under National Pension System (NPS) for the employees of Central Government who are covered under the NPS. There is no proposal under consideration to extend such benefits to other pension schemes or sector.”

Published – July 28, 2025 03:55 pm IST

Source link

On Pension Row, Nirmala Sitharaman’s Sharp Counter To Congress’ “U-Turn” Jab

admin — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 14:12:21 +0000

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (File).

New Delhi:

Finance Minister on Tuesday joined the government’s pushback against the Congress’s “government of U-turns” jibe over the Unified Pension Scheme, or UPS, proposal. “We are not a government of U-turns… we give flexible, choice-driven governance,” she shot back.

The Finance Minister criticised the Congress for failing to understand the UPS is not a rollback to the pre-2004 pension plan, and that it will improve the current National Pension System, or NPS. She also hit out at non-BJP ruled states, saying, “I feel UPS will be implemented sooner or later…”

However, ministry sources told NDTV the government would not “market” the new pension scheme to states unwilling to adopt it; there is no compulsion to do so, sources explained.

Sources also said the ‘architecture’ of the new pension scheme has been given to all states, whether ruled by the BJP or an opposition party, and it is for each to weigh pros and cons and decide.

Ahead of the 2022 Himachal Pradesh election, for example, the Congress said it would implement the old scheme if it won power. The party secured a strong win, claiming 40 of its 68 seats.

Sources further said the new pension scheme is not applicable to public sector or employees of central or state-run banks, or the armed forces, who will continue with the older scheme.

In a major announcement ahead of elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana in September-October, as well as those in Maharashtra and Jharkhand later this year, the government launched the Unified Pension Scheme – to be implemented from April 1 next year – on Saturday.

READ | “Will Benefit 23 Lakh Staff”: Centre Launches Unified Pension Scheme

“This will benefit 23 lakh central government employees…” Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, adding that employees would also have the option to choose between the old and new schemes.

The announcement triggered protests from the opposition.

Congress boss Mallikarjun Kharge fired the “government of U-turns” barb, pointing to instances when the Narendra Modi government had to rethink legislations amid fierce protests.

READ | “U In UPS Stands For…”: Mallikarjun Kharge Jabs Centre On Pensions

“Post June 4 (the date on which the April-June Lok Sabha election results were declared), the power of the people has prevailed over the arrogance of power of the Prime Minister…”

“Rollback in the budget regarding long-term capital gain/indexation, sending Waqf Bill to joint parliamentary committee, rollback of broadcast bill, rollback of lateral entry,” Mr Kharge said on X.

In response, BJP spokesperson Tuhin Sinha told NDTV that Congress-ruled states “end up making a mess of finances”. “Every morning, they come and spread lies. They have nothing to do. Unlike the Congress… which messes up finances in states they are in power, like Telangana and Karnataka… the central government takes care before taking key decisions,” he declared.

READ | After ‘ “U-Turn” Swipe, BJP’s Question On Old Pension Scheme

The Congress’ “U-turns” jibe also drew a strong response from senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, who asked when the party planned on meeting its election promises. “I want to ask Rahul Gandhi – has his government implemented the old scheme as promised in Himachal Pradesh?”

The UPS retains several features of the pre-2004 pension scheme and, at its core, assures government staff of 50 per cent of their last-drawn basic pay as a lifelong monthly benefit. It also guarantees an assured minimum pension of Rs 10,000 per month on superannuation after a minimum of 10 years.

READ | Unified Pension Scheme Explained In 6 Simple Points

Under the new scheme – introduced by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2004 – pension payouts have been linked to contributions made by the government and the employee.

In the old scheme employees did not make any contributions.

When the old scheme was announced in 2004 five opposition-ruled states had rejected it.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

Source link

nirmala sitharaman on unified pension scheme – Artifex.News

FM Nirmala Sitharaman says over 31,500 government employees opted for UPS till July 20

On Pension Row, Nirmala Sitharaman’s Sharp Counter To Congress’ “U-Turn” Jab