Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) – Explained
Effective from April 1, 2025 | Central Government Employees under NPS
📋 Overview
The Unified Pension Scheme is a revamped retirement benefit system applicable to Central Government employees under the National Pension System (NPS), offering an assured monthly payout post-retirement.
✅ Eligibility
- Minimum 10 years of service required.
- Applicable on superannuation, FR 56(j) (non-penal), or voluntary retirement after 25 years.
- Not available in case of resignation, dismissal, or removal.
💰 Key Benefits
- 50% of last 12-month average basic pay (after 25 years of service).
- Minimum assured pension: ₹10,000/month after 10 years of service.
- Family pension: 60% to spouse after death.
- Dearness Relief (DR) linked to DA for serving employees.
- Lump sum: 10% of (Basic + DA) for every 6 months served.
💼 Structure of Pension Corpus
- Individual Corpus: Employee’s 10% + matching 10% by Govt.
- Pool Corpus: Additional 8.5% Govt. contribution for assured payouts.
📈 Investment Options
- Employees can manage their individual corpus investment per PFRDA rules.
- Default pattern applies if no option is selected.
- Pool corpus investment is handled by the Government.
🔁 Transitioning to the Unified Pension Scheme
- Existing NPS employees and new recruits can choose between NPS & UPS.
- Choice is final and cannot be reversed.
- For those retiring before April 1, 2025: PFRDA will handle top-ups, and arrears + interest will be paid.
⚖️ At the Time of Retirement
- Service is validated, and corpus is compared to a benchmark set by PFRDA.
- If short: employee can voluntarily pay the gap.
- If excess: surplus remains with employee.
- If benchmark not met: payout is reduced proportionately.
❌ Restrictions & Clarifications
- No other pension benefits can be claimed after opting into UPS.
- Separate rules will cover those facing disciplinary proceedings.
- PFRDA will release detailed implementation guidelines.
📅 Effective Date
The Unified Pension Scheme comes into force from 1st April 2025.
📊 Understanding Assured Pension Payout
Abbreviations Used:
- P: Average basic pay in the last 12 months before retirement.
- Q: Number of months of qualifying service.
- IC: Individual corpus value accumulated by the employee.
- BC: Benchmark corpus value for payout calculations.
- DR: Dearness Relief, applicable on payouts for inflation adjustment.
Illustrative Payout Scenarios:
Scenario 1: Employee completes 25+ years of service and fulfills all conditions.
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Basic Pay (P) | ₹45,000 |
| Qualifying Service (Q) | 300 months |
| Individual Corpus (IC) | ₹50,00,000 |
| Benchmark Corpus (BC) | ₹50,00,000 |
| Final Payout | ₹22,500 + DR |
Scenario 2: Employee has 15 years of service.
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Qualifying Service (Q) | 180 months |
| Individual Corpus (IC) | ₹30,00,000 |
| Benchmark Corpus (BC) | ₹30,00,000 |
| Final Payout | ₹13,500 + DR |
Scenario 3: Employee has 10 years of service.
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Qualifying Service (Q) | 120 months |
| Individual Corpus (IC) | ₹25,00,000 |
| Benchmark Corpus (BC) | ₹25,00,000 |
| Final Payout | ₹10,000 + DR (Minimum Guaranteed) |
Scenario 4: Employee has missing contributions.
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Individual Corpus (IC) | ₹45,00,000 |
| Benchmark Corpus (BC) | ₹50,00,000 |
| Final Payout | ₹20,250 + DR |
Scenario 5: Employee made partial withdrawals from individual corpus.
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Individual Corpus (IC) | ₹40,00,000 |
| Benchmark Corpus (BC) | ₹50,00,000 |
| Final Payout | ₹18,000 + DR |
Scenario 6: Employee opted for investment choices and individual corpus exceeds benchmark corpus.
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Individual Corpus (IC) | ₹55,00,000 |
| Benchmark Corpus (BC) | ₹50,00,000 |
| Final Payout | ₹22,500 + DR + ₹5,00,000 excess corpus credit |
Scenario 7a: Employee opted for investment choices, individual corpus is lower than benchmark corpus.
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Individual Corpus (IC) | ₹45,00,000 |
| Benchmark Corpus (BC) | ₹50,00,000 |
| Final Payout | ₹20,250 + DR |
Scenario 7b: Employee partially recoups individual corpus shortfall.
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Individual Corpus (IC) | ₹47,50,000 |
| Benchmark Corpus (BC) | ₹50,00,000 |
| Final Payout | ₹21,375 + DR |
Key Takeaways:
- Employees with **longer service** receive **higher payouts**.
- **Missing contributions or withdrawals** lower final payouts.
- Investment choices **directly impact corpus value and payout**.
- Employees **can voluntarily pay gaps** if their corpus is below the benchmark.
💰 Lump Sum Payment Calculation
At the time of **superannuation, voluntary retirement, or retirement under FR 56(j)**, employees receive a lump sum amount based on their **total emoluments** and the number of completed **six-month service periods**.
Formula:
Lump Sum Amount = (1/10 of Emoluments) × L
Where **L** represents the number of full six-month service periods.
| Length of Qualifying Service | Completed Six-Month Periods (L) | Lump Sum Amount (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years (120 months) | 20 | ₹1,37,700 |
| 15 years (180 months) | 30 | ₹2,06,550 |
| 20 years (240 months) | 40 | ₹2,75,400 |
| 25 years (300 months) | 50 | ₹3,44,250 |
| 30 years (360 months) | 60 | ₹4,13,100 |
| 35 years (420 months) | 70 | ₹4,81,950 |
Note: No lump sum will be payable for service periods **less than 10 years (120 months)**.
📋 ସାରାଂଶ (Overview)
ଏକୀକୃତ ପେନ୍ସନ ଯୋଜନା (UPS) ହେଉଛି **ଏକ ନୂତନ ପୁନଃଗଠିତ ଅବସର ପ୍ରାପ୍ତି ଲାଭ ଉପଯୋଗ**, ଯାହା **ଜାତୀୟ ପେନ୍ସନ ପଦ୍ଧତି (NPS)** ଅନ୍ତର୍ଗତ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସରକାର କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଉପଲବ୍ଧ। ଏହା ଅବସର ପରେ **ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ମାସିକ ଗ୍ୟାରାଣ୍ଟି ପେନ୍ସନ** ଦେବ।
✅ ପାତ୍ରତା (Eligibility)
- କମରେ ୧୦ ବର୍ଷର ସେବା ଦରକାର।
- ଏହି ଯୋଜନା **ଅବସର ଦ୍ୱାରା, FR 56(j)** (ଅପ୍ରଶିକ୍ଷିତ), ଏବଂ ୨୫ ବର୍ଷ ପରେ ସ୍ଵେଚ୍ଛିକ ଅବସର ଉପଲବ୍ଧ।
- ଯଦି **ପଦମୁଖ୍ୟ ଛାଡ଼ିବା, ବର୍ଜନ କିମ୍ବା ବାଦ** ହୁଏ, ତେବେ ଏହି ଯୋଜନା ଲାଗୁ ହେବ ନାହିଁ।
💰 ମୁଖ୍ୟ ଲାଭ (Key Benefits)
- ୨୫ ବର୍ଷ ସେବା ପରେ ଶେଷ ୧୨ ମାସର ମାଧ୍ୟମ ବେତନର ୫୦% ପେନ୍ସନ ଦେୟ।
- କମ ଅଟେ: ₹10,000/ମାସ (୧୦ ବର୍ଷର ସେବା ପରେ)।
- ପରିବାର ପେନ୍ସନ: ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ପରେ ସ୍ପାଉସ ଙ୍କୁ ୬୦% ଦେୟ।
- ମହଙ୍ଗାଇ ଭତ୍ତା (Dearness Relief - DR) ସର୍ବିଙ୍ଗ କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କ DA ଅନୁପାତରେ ଦେୟ।
- ଏକମୁଶ୍ତ ପେମେଣ୍ଟ: ମାସିକ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତିର ୧୦% ମିଳିବ ପ୍ରତି **୬ ମାସର ସେବା** ପରେ।
💼 ପେନ୍ସନ କର୍ପସ ରୂପ
- ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଗତ କର୍ପସ: କର୍ମଚାରୀ ତରଫରୁ ୧୦% + ସମାନ ରାଶି ସରକାର ଦ୍ୱାରା।
- ପୁଲ୍ କର୍ପସ: **ଅତିରିକ୍ତ ୮.୫%** ସରକାରୀ ଅଂଶଦାନ **ପେନ୍ସନ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ କରିବାକୁ**।
📅 ପ୍ରଭାବଶାଳୀ ତାରିଖ (Effective Date)
**ଏକୀକୃତ ପେନ୍ସନ ଯୋଜନା** ଏପ୍ରିଲ ୧, ୨୦୨୫ ରୁ ଲାଗୁ ହେବ।
📊 ଏକୀକୃତ ପେନ୍ସନ ଯୋଜନା ବାବଦ ଉଦାହରଣ
ସଂକ୍ଷିପ୍ତ ରୂପ (Abbreviations) ଆଲୋଚନା:
- P: ଅବସର ପାଇବା ପୂର୍ବରୁ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ ୧୨ ମାସ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ମାଧ୍ୟମ ମୂଳ ବେତନ।
- Q: ପାତ୍ରତାସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ଚାକିରି ମାସର ସଂଖ୍ୟା।
- IC: କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସଂଗ୍ରହ ହୋଇଥିବା ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଗତ କର୍ପସ ମୂଲ୍ୟ।
- BC: ପ୍ରଦତ୍ତ ପେନ୍ସନ ଦେବା ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରିତ ବ୍ୟାନ୍ଚମାର୍କ କର୍ପସ ମୂଲ୍ୟ।
- DR: ମହଙ୍ଗାଇ ଭତ୍ତା, ଯୋଗ୍ୟ ଅଯୋଗ୍ୟ ଦେଖି ବୃଦ୍ଧି କରାଯାଏ।
ଉଦାହରଣ ଭିତରୁ କିଛି ସ୍ଥିତି:
ଉଦାହରଣ 1: କର୍ମଚାରୀ ୨୫+ ବର୍ଷ ଚାକିରି ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ କରିଛନ୍ତି ଏବଂ ସମସ୍ତ ଶରତ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ କରିଛନ୍ତି।
| ପାରାମିଟର | ମୂଲ୍ୟ |
|---|---|
| ମାଧ୍ୟମ ବେତନ (P) | ₹45,000 |
| ପାତ୍ରତାସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ଚାକିରି (Q) | 300 months |
| ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଗତ କର୍ପସ (IC) | ₹50,00,000 |
| ବ୍ୟାନ୍ଚମାର୍କ କର୍ପସ (BC) | ₹50,00,000 |
| ପ୍ରଦତ୍ତ ମାନଦଣ୍ଡ | (P / 2) × (Q / 300) × (IC / BC) |
| ଅନୁମାନିତ ପେନ୍ସନ ଦେୟ | ₹22,500 + DR |
ଉଦାହରଣ 2: କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କ ୧୫ ବର୍ଷର ସେବା ଅଛି।
| ପାରାମିଟର | ମୂଲ୍ୟ |
|---|---|
| ପାତ୍ରତାସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ଚାକିରି (Q) | 180 months |
| ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଗତ କର୍ପସ (IC) | ₹30,00,000 |
| ବ୍ୟାନ୍ଚମାର୍କ କର୍ପସ (BC) | ₹30,00,000 |
| ଅନୁମାନିତ ପେନ୍ସନ ଦେୟ | ₹13,500 + DR |
ଉଦାହରଣ 3: କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କ ୧୦ ବର୍ଷର ସେବା ଅଛି।
| ପାରାମିଟର | ମୂଲ୍ୟ |
|---|---|
| ପାତ୍ରତାସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ଚାକିରି (Q) | 120 months |
| ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଗତ କର୍ପସ (IC) | ₹25,00,000 |
| ବ୍ୟାନ୍ଚମାର୍କ କର୍ପସ (BC) | ₹25,00,000 |
| ଅନୁମାନିତ ପେନ୍ସନ ଦେୟ | ₹10,000 + DR (ନ୍ୟূନତମ ଗ୍ୟାରାଣ୍ଟି) |
ମୁଖ୍ୟ ଜଣାସୁଣା:
- ଦୀର୍ଘ ସେବା କରିଥିବା କର୍ମଚାରୀ ଅଧିକ ପେନ୍ସନ ଅଭିକ୍ଷିତ କରିପାରିବେ।
- ଅଞ୍ଚଳସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀୟ ଅବଲମ୍ବନ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପେନ୍ସନ ପ୍ରଭାବିତ ହେବ।
- ନିବେଶ ରୂପରେ କର୍ମଚାରୀ କର୍ପସ ମୂଲ୍ୟ ବୃଦ୍ଧି କରିପାରିବେ।
💰 ଏକମୁଶ୍ତ ପେମେଣ୍ଟ ଗଣନା (Lump Sum Payment Calculation)
**ଅବସର, ସ୍ଵେଚ୍ଛିକ ଅବସର, କିମ୍ବା FR 56(j) ଅନ୍ତର୍ଗତ ଅବସର** ସମୟରେ, କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କୁ ସେବା ବୃତ୍ତିକୁ ମାଧ୍ୟମ କରି **ଏକମୁଶ୍ତ ପେମେଣ୍ଟ** ଦିଆଯାଇଥାଏ। ଏହା **ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବେତନର ୧/୧୦** ଏବଂ **ସମପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଛଅ-ମାସ ସେବା ବର୍ଷ** ଉପରି ଆଧାରିତ।
ସୂତ୍ର:
ଏକମୁଶ୍ତ ରାଶି = (ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ବେତନର ୧/୧୦) × L
ଏଠି **L** ରୁ **ସେବା ବର୍ଷର ସମପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଛଅ-ମାସ ଅବଧି** ଉଦ୍ଧୃତ।
| ଯୋଗ୍ୟ ସେବା ଅବଧି | ସମପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଛଅ-ମାସ ଅବଧି (L) | ଏକମୁଶ୍ତ ରାଶି (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| ୧୦ ବର୍ଷ (୧୨୦ ମାସ) | 20 | ₹1,37,700 |
| ୧୫ ବର୍ଷ (୧୮୦ ମାସ) | 30 | ₹2,06,550 |
| ୨୦ ବର୍ଷ (୨୪୦ ମାସ) | 40 | ₹2,75,400 |
| ୨୫ ବର୍ଷ (୩୦୦ ମାସ) | 50 | ₹3,44,250 |
| ୩୦ ବର୍ଷ (୩୬୦ ମାସ) | 60 | ₹4,13,100 |
| ୩୫ ବର୍ଷ (୪୨୦ ମାସ) | 70 | ₹4,81,950 |
ଟିପ୍ପଣୀ: **୧୦ ବର୍ଷ (୧୨୦ ମାସ) କମ ସେବା** ହେଲେ **ଏକମୁଶ୍ତ ପେମେଣ୍ଟ ଦେୟ ନାହିଁ**।
🔍 Difference Between NPS & UPS
| Factor | National Pension System (NPS) | Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Applicable to Central Government employees (mandatory for those joining after 2004). | Applicable only to employees who opt for UPS under NPS. |
| Pension Structure | Market-linked pension depending on corpus growth. | Fixed assured payout linked to last drawn basic pay. |
| Corpus Contribution | 10% from employee, 14% by government. | 10% employee + 10% govt matching + additional 8.5% govt corpus. |
| Investment Control | Employee chooses investment options regulated by PFRDA. | Investment in individual corpus by employee; pool corpus managed by government. |
| Withdrawal Flexibility | Partial withdrawal allowed (up to 25% of contribution for specific needs). | Strict framework with limited withdrawal options. |
| Pension Amount Calculation | Based on annuity chosen & market performance. | Guaranteed pension based on last 12-month avg basic pay. |
| Minimum Pension Guarantee | No guaranteed minimum pension. | Minimum ₹10,000/month after 10 years of service. |
| Family Pension | Depends on annuity plan selected. | 60% of pension guaranteed to spouse after death. |
| Dearness Relief (DR) | Not applicable; pension is market-dependent. | Applicable & linked to serving employee DA. |
| Finality of Choice | Employee remains under NPS unless opting for annuity-based pension. | Once opted, UPS is **final & irreversible**. |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who can opt for the Unified Pension Scheme?
A: Central Government employees under NPS who are in service on or after April 1, 2025.
Q2. What is the minimum pension amount assured?
A: ₹10,000 per month after 10 years of qualifying service.
Q3. Will Dearness Relief (DR) be applicable?
A: Yes. DR is applicable and calculated like DA for serving employees.
Q4. Can I switch back to standard NPS after opting UPS?
A: No. Once opted, the Unified Pension Scheme is final and irreversible.
Q5. Is this applicable to employees who retire before April 2025?
A: Yes, subject to conditions. Past retirees may get arrears and interest.
For more details, refer to the official Government notification: Download Unified Pension 2025 Notification.