The Finance Ministry on Monday (August 25, 2025) introduced a one-time, one-way switch facility from the newly introduced Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) to the National Pension System (NPS).

From April 1, 2025, the government has introduced UPS as an option under the NPS for Central government employees. UPS will provide assured payouts to the employees.

As many as 31,555 Central government employees have opted for UPS till July 20, 2025, and the last date to enroll under the scheme is September 30, 2025.

In an office memorandum, the Ministry said the switch facility will be made available to all Central government employees who have opted for UPS.

“This switch facility may be exercised by UPS optees any time not later than one year prior to the date of superannuation or three months prior to the deemed date of retirement in case of voluntary retirement, as applicable,” it added.

The government has extended the benefit of retirement gratuity and death gratuity under UPS.

Government employees who opt for UPS under NPS will be eligible for the option to avail benefits under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, or the CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, 2023, in the event of death of the government servant during service or his discharge on the ground of invalidation or disablement.

The government has extended tax benefits to UPS as are available to NPS under the Income Tax Act, 1961.