Apart from its serving employees and officers, the Central Government has also given the opportunity to retired employees to leave NPS and join the old pension scheme. Earlier this option was provided to central employees in March. After that, in July, this option was also given to selected officers of All India Services (AIS). After that, it was asked from the retired employees whether they can also take advantage of this option. The Central Government also gave them the option to switch from NPS to OPS. Different cut off dates were kept for these. In the office memorandum issued on November 7 by the 'Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare' under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions of the Government of India, it has been said that for the central employees exercising this option, the final decision will now be submitted by the authorized authority by November 30. Can issue orders. Earlier the necessary order in this regard was to be issued by October 31, 2023.

'A request was made to the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare by the concerned authority or the appointing authority to extend the last date fixed in this regard. After considering the requests received from various departments, the 'Pension and Pensioners' Welfare Department' has now extended the cut-off date for taking a final decision in this regard to November 30. The Central Government had provided the option to switch from NPS to OPS under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) to such employees who were in the Central Government services for advertised or notified posts before December 22, 2003. Had attended. Such employees were given time till August 31 to choose one option. These orders were issued in March 2023. There were some employees who retired before the said order. Recently he had asked whether he would also get the option to join OPS from NPS after his retirement. The government said, they can also come in OPS. Provided that they have to fulfill certain conditions.

Those Central Government employees who joined Government service on or after January 1, 2004, but their recruitment process was completed before the said date. This included all the formalities from advertisement of posts to recruitment. Due to some reasons, such employees had joined service after January 2004. The final result of those employees had already come before NPS was implemented on 22 December 2003, but they got joining after 1 January 2004. In such a situation, he could not get the benefit of his old pension. He was included in NPS. A large number of requests were received from central employees for extension of pension scheme benefits under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021). The workers took refuge in the High Courts and Central Administrative Tribunals. From there, when decisions were taken in their favor, the Central Government provided the option to all those personnel to join OPS on March 3, 2023. For this, employees had to give their option by 31st August.

The Central Government had also provided the option to select All India Services (AIS) officers included in the NPS to join the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Such AIS officers, who were appointed against the vacancies advertised/notified before the notification of NPS on December 22, 2003, the government had said in an order dated July 13, 2023. He was included in NPS. Officers who joined service on or after January 1, 2004, may be given a lump sum option to be covered under the provisions of the old pension scheme under AIS (DCRB) Rules, 1958. AIS officers fulfilling the above condition can give their option to switch from NPS to OPS till November 30, 2023. The government has clarified that this option will be the last chance.

The government orders said the matter has been examined in consultation with the Department of Financial Services, Department of Personnel and Training, Department of Expenditure and Department of Legal Affairs in the light of various representations/references and court decisions in this regard. Subsequently, it has now been decided that in all cases where a Central Government civil servant has been appointed against a vacant post. His recruitment process was completed before the date of notification issued for the National Pension System 'NPS' i.e. 22nd December, 2003, but the joining took place on or after 1st January, 2004, all those personnel will be eligible to join the Central Civil Services (Pension ) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) has given a one-time option to be covered.If employees do not exercise this option by the prescribed date, they will continue to be covered by the National Pension System. If the government employee fulfills the conditions of coverage under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), necessary orders in this regard will be issued by October 31, 2023. However, now this date has been extended to 30 November.

'An office memorandum in this regard has been issued by the Pension and Pensioners' Welfare Department on October 20. It said that some central employees, who have now retired, have asked whether they can also join OPS. Will the said order also apply to those people who had already retired before this order came? That means his retirement took place before March 3, 2023. In this regard, the Pension and Pensioners Welfare Department says, yes they can also use the said option. Here such personnel will have to follow certain conditions. Like if he has taken all the benefits of NPS on retirement, then it will have to be returned. They can avail the benefit of OPS only if they return the money received from NPS on retirement.