OPS: Under the new update, the central employees will also start getting old pension. Taking a big step from the government side, a select group of central employees have been given the option to opt for the old pension scheme.
Old Pension Scheme Latest Update: If you are a central government employee or there is a central employee in your family, then a big update has come regarding the old pension. Yes, under this update, the central employees will also start getting old pension.
Taking a big step on behalf of the government, a select group of central employees has been given the option to opt for the Old Pension Scheme. In the order given by the Ministry of Personnel, it was said that the employees joining the Central Services for the posts advertised or notified before December 22, 2003 will be given the option of old pension once.
Employees had time till August 31 to
subscribe to the National Pension System (NPS) notified from December 22, 2003 itself. Such employees are eligible for old pension under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021). Employees have time till 31st August to opt for OPS through this option. The order will be applicable to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel and other such central employees who joined the services in 2004. Actually, the delay in the recruitment process was due to administrative reasons.
There will be unnecessary financial burden on the government.
After this step taken by the government, the NPS contribution of the employees will be deposited in the General Provident Fund (GPF). On behalf of the BJP-led government, it was said that restoring the old pension scheme (OPS) would put unnecessary financial burden on the government. Earlier Congress ruled states of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh have already announced to restore OPS.
Government could not win a single case
Let us tell you that till January 31, 23,65,693 central employees and 60,32,768 state government employees were enrolled under NPS. A senior official said that this decision was taken by the government after several lawsuits were filed against the government on this matter. ‘Hundreds of cases took place in courts across the country, the government could not win a single case.’
In the order issued by the government, it was said that the employees who are eligible to use the option of old pension. But if they do not exercise this option till the last date (31st August) then they will continue to be covered under National Pension System (NPS). The order also said that the option once exercised would be final.