The final date to avail the one-time choice for the Central government workers to get coverage of CCS Pension Rules 1972, in location of the National Pension System (NPS), has been extended. The new revised date will now stand as May 31, 2021. This will be applicable for these workers who have been chosen just before 01.01.2004 but joined soon after 01.01.2004. Earlier, the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare beneath the Government of India had issued an Office Memorandum (OM) providing an choice to the impacted Central government workers to opt for the old pension scheme (OPS) alternatively of NPS.
The Office Memorandum supplied for reduce off dates for several activities involved in the course of action of working out of choice, deciding representations by appointing authorities and closure of NPS accounts of the concerned Government servants.
In view of the nation-wide lockdown in the nation due to the outbreak of Covid -19 pandemic and references received from some Ministries and Departments for extension of time schedule the government has decided to extend the reduce-off dates as beneath:
1. Exercise of choice by Government servant for coverage beneath old pension scheme
Last date described in OM dated February 17, 2020: 31.05.2020
Revised final date: 31.05.2021
2. Examination and selection on the representation by the appointing authority
Last date described in OM dated February 17, 2020: 30.09.2020
Revised final date: 30.09.2021
3. Closure of NPS accounts of Government servants on acceptance of their choice
Last date described in OM dated February 17, 2020: 01.11.2020
Revised final date: 01.11.2021
After the introduction of the National Pension System (NPS), all Government workers appointed on or soon after 01.01.2004 to the posts in the Central Government service (except armed forces) are mandatorily covered beneath NPS. The Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 and other connected guidelines have been also amended and have been not applicable to the Government workers appointed to Government service soon after 31.12.2003.
However, the government had received representations from the Government workers appointed on or soon after 1.1.2004 requesting for the advantage of the pension scheme beneath Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 on the ground that their appointment was delayed on account of administrative factors or lapses.
Such Government workers who have been declared profitable for recruitment in the benefits declared on or just before 31.12.2003 against vacancies occurring just before 01.01.2004 and are covered beneath the National Pension System on joining service on or soon after 01.01.2004, are getting provided a one-time choice to be covered beneath the CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972.