New Delhi, June 18 (UNI) The Government on Wednesday said that all central government staff covered under the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) will now be eligible for retirement and death gratuity benefits available under the Old Pension Scheme.

“This is in keeping with the long-pending demand by a large section of government employees, he said.
The move addresses a significant demand of government staff and brings parity in retirement benefits, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said here.

He further said the new provision reflects the government’s commitment to ensure social security for all categories of employees under the National Pension System.

The central government employees covered under the UPS will now be eligible for retirement and death gratuity benefits, as per the provisions of the Central Civil Services Rules, 2021, Singh said at a press conference here.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, under the Personnel Ministry, on Wednesday issued an order on the "options to avail benefits under Old Pension Scheme on death of government servant during service or his discharge from government service on account of invalidation or disability for central government servants covered under Unified Pension Scheme".

The DoPPW had notified the Central Civil Services Rules, 2021, to regulate service-related matters of central government employees covered under the NPS.

The Minister also deliberated in detail on the "transformational" journey of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions over the last 11 years, stating that "a series of reforms aimed at simplifying governance, empowering citizens, and humanising administration had been undertaken."

Dr Singh said, "for instance we have repealed over 1,600 outdated provisions—many of them colonial-era legacies—as a strong message of trust in citizens, particularly India’s youth."
UNI AJ SS