Chandigarh to Finalize List of Eligible Workers Under CCS Pension Rules by Aug 15

In a major development that has fulfilled a long standing request of numerous government employees, Chandigarh Administration has announced that they will finalize the list of eligible employees to transfer them from National Pension System (NPS) to Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules 1972, by August 15, 2025.

After the Government of India order dated March 3rd 2023 this is a reversal with implications for an important policy change. It applies to employees who were appointed to posts either advertised or notified on or before December 22, 2003 who joined service on or after 1st January, 2004 and were therefore enrolled in NPS.

Old Pension Scheme Returns for Select Employees

As per the order, such employees are now allowed to cover them under OPS, as long as they meet the required eligibility criteria. This came as a relief to nearly 300 employees in the UT Administration. In contrast to market linked returns of the NPS which have prompted employees to raise concerns about retirement security, OPS guarantees a set pension (50% of final salary) with CPI inflation adjustments.

Departments Tasked With Final Verification

The UT Administration instructed the service of each department to examine service records and reconcile verification of compliance, with respect to the central order. Officials are optimistic that this is positive development to promote financial stability for employees long in government service.

Chandigarh now becomes the latest state to roll back NPS for OPS, behind Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh with union pressure as a backbone. Critics warn of pension burdens into the future, while the decision has been heralded as a significant victory for workers’ rights and dignity in retirement.