**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1152 regarding the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for central government employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS). The UPS was introduced to provide assured payouts to employees as an alternative to the NPS. Based on representations from employees and associations, the deadline to opt for the UPS has been extended by three months to September 30, 2025. As of July 20, 2025, 31,555 employees had opted for the UPS. The information was provided by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, on July 28, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Finance: A department of the Government of India responsible for financial matters.
Department of Financial Services: A department under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Shri Anto Antony: Member of Parliament who raised the question about the Unified Pension Scheme.
Unified Pension Scheme (UPS): A pension scheme introduced as an option under the National Pension System (NPS) for Central Government employees.
National Pension System (NPS): A pension scheme for employees of the Central Government.
Shri Pankaj Chaudhary: Minister of State for Finance who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
30th September, 2025: The extended cutoff date for employees to opt for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
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LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1152
ANSWERED ON MONDAY, 28 JULY, 2025/ SRAVANA 6, 1947 (SAKA)
TIME LIMIT FOR CHOOSING UPS SCHEME
1152. Shri Anto Antony
Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has introduced the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for its employees
and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has given options to join UPS or NPS;
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the time limit provided to the employees to opt the UPS
scheme;
(d) the number of employees opted UPS as on date; and
(e) whether the Government has any plan to extend the time limit for choosing the scheme and if
so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE
(SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (e) Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) has been introduced as an option under National Pension
System (NPS) for the employees of Central Government who are covered under the NPS, with the
objective of providing assured payouts to the employees. Based on the representations from
employees and associations, the cut-off date to opt for UPS has been extended for a period of three
months up to 30th September, 2025. Further, as on 20.07.2025, 31555 employees have opted UPS.
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