**Executive Summary**
This circular, issued by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) on October 6, 2025, announces the extension of the cut-off date for exercising the option of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) under the National Pension System (NPS). The deadline is extended by two months, until November 30, 2025, for specific categories of Central Government employees and their spouses. The circular is effective immediately.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Extension of Cut-off Date:**
* The cut-off date for exercising the UPS option under NPS has been extended to November 30, 2025.
* **Applicability:**
* The extension applies to:
* Existing Central Government employees in service as of April 1, 2025, covered under NPS, who wish to migrate to UPS.
* Central Government employees covered under NPS who have superannuated, voluntarily retired, or retired under Fundamental Rules 56 (j) on or before March 31, 2025.
* Legally wedded spouses of subscribers who have superannuated or retired and passed away before exercising the UPS option.
* **Regulatory Basis:**
* The extension is in reference to Regulation 3 (2) (i) of the PFRDA Regulations, 2025, regarding the operationalization of UPS under NPS.
* **Authority:**
* The circular is issued under the powers conferred by Section 14 of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013.
**Impact Analysis**
**The PrAOs, PAOs, DDOs of Central Government, The DTAs, DTOS, DDOs of State Government, Central Recordkeeping Agencies (CRAS)**
* **Impact:** These entities need to be aware of the extended deadline and disseminate this information to relevant individuals.
* **Action Required:** Inform employees and retirees about the extended deadline for exercising the UPS option. Process applications received within the new deadline.
**Existing Employees, Eligible Past Retirees and the Legally wedded Spouses of Deceased Past Retirees of Central Government covered under National Pension System (NPS)**
* **Impact:** Provides additional time for eligible individuals to decide and exercise their option for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
* **Action Required:** Review the UPS option and submit their application by November 30, 2025, if they choose to exercise it.
Key Entities Referenced
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013: Act under which the circular is issued, referencing Section 14.
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority: Regulator issuing the circular regarding the Unified Pension Scheme.
Unified Pension Scheme (UPS): The scheme that is the subject of the extension of the cut-off date.
National Pension System (NPS): The pension system under which the Unified Pension Scheme operates.
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PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Circular
Circular No: PFRDA/2025/14/SUP-CG-SG/06 October 06, 2025
To, |
The PrAOs, PAOs, DDOs of Central Government,
Existing Employees, Eligible Past Retirees and the Legally wedded Spouses of
Deceased Past Retirees of Central Government covered under National Pension
System (NPS)
The DTAs, DTOs, DDOs of State Government with respect to AlS officials,
The Central Recordkeeping Agencies (CRAs),
National Pension System Trust
Subject: Extension of cut-off date for exercising Option of Unified Pension Scheme
(UPS) under NPS by two months i.e., upto 30 November 2025- reg.
Please refer to the Regulation 3 (2) (i) of the Pension Fund Regulatory and
Development Authority (Operationalisation of the Unified Pension Scheme under
National Pension System) Regulations, 2025 dated 19! March, 2025, wherein, it is
provided that the exercise of option in respect of an eligible employee to be covered
under UPS shall be undertaken :- (i) within three months from 1s April 2025, or within
such extended timelines it any, allowed by the Central Government, in respect of a
person mentioned under clause (i) and clause (iii) of sub-regulation (1) of regulation 3
of the above regulations.
2. The Central Government of India has extended the cut-off date for exercising the
option for UPS by two months ie., upto 30% November 2025 in respect of the
following:
(i) migration to UPS from NPS by an existing Central Government employee in
service as on 1st April 2025, who is covered under NPS.
(ii) claim by (a) A Central Government employee who was covered under NPS and
who has superannuated or voluntarily retired or has retired under Fundamental
Rules 56 (j) (which is not treated as penalty under Central Civil Services
(Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965), on or before 31st March 2025; or
(b) the legally wedded spouse in case of a subscriber who has superannuated or
retired and has demised prior to exercising the option of UPS. _ A
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gear : 91—11—40717900, daa : www.pfrda.org.in
E-500, Tower -E, Fifth Floor, World Trade Center, Nauroji Nagar, New Delhi-110029
Phone : 91-11-40717900, Website : www.pfrda.org.in3. This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 14 of the
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013 and shall be effective
immediately.
(Vikas Kumar Singh)
Chief General Manager