Exclusion of Central Government employees from NPS: Rajya Sabha QA

Exclusion of Central Government employees from NPS: Rajya Sabha QA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS’ WELFARE)
RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 126
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2023)

EXCLUSION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES FROM NPS

126 SHRI NEERAJ SHEKHAR:
SHRI JAVED ALI KHAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

(a) whether Department of Expenditure (DoE) vide its ID note dated 05/12/2022 has accorded its concurrence for issuing general orders for exclusion of Central Government employees from the purview of NPS and to cover them under OPS whose advertisements for recruitments were issued on or before 22/12/2003;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon;

(c) whether OM to be issued in this regard has also been vetted by DoE and returned back to DoP&PW;

(d) if so, the reasons for delay in issuing orders; and

(e) by when DoP&PW would issue general orders for similarly placed officials?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES
AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (e): After dismissal of some of SLPs / Review Petitions by Hon’ble Supreme Court filed by Union of India against the orders of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi allowing benefit of old pension scheme to those Government servants whose selection process was completed after 01.01.2004, a reference along with draft OM was made to Department of Expenditure on the question of issue of general order in this regard. Department of Expenditure furnished their comments vide note dated 05/12/2022.

There is no decision to issue general instructions in this regard.

National Pension System (NPS) was introduced for Central Government employees by a Notification of Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) dated 22nd December, 2003. NPS is mandatory for all new recruits to the Central Government service from 1st January, 2004 (except the armed forces).

In view of the specific provisions of the Notification dated 22.12.2003, the date of advertisement for the vacancies is not considered relevant for determining the eligibility for coverage under the Old Pension Scheme or the National Pension System.

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Source: Rajya Sabha