Old Pension Scheme: More than 5 lakh government employees of Madhya Pradesh are demanding restoration of the Old Pension Scheme.
OPS Vs NPS Update: Assembly elections are going to be held in Madhya Pradesh in which the Old Pension Scheme has become a big election issue. The opposition party Congress in the state has made an election promise to reinstate the old pension scheme for government employees if it comes to power. Five lakh government employees of the state are continuously demanding restoration of the old pension scheme. But even before the elections, the state government has taken a decision regarding the Old Pension Scheme which can become a big example in the entire country and which will benefit many government employees who may have joined the job after January 1, 2004, but their appointment Or the job may have already been advertised before the date of notification issued for NPS.
Big decision of Madhya Pradesh government before assembly elections
The state government of Madhya Pradesh has given its approval to give the benefit of Old Pension Scheme to five IAS officers appointed in 2004-05. Actually, these five IAS officers had demanded from the Central Government to give them the benefit of Old Pension Scheme as per the rules. After which the General Administrative Department of the state has approved giving OPS as per the circular issued by the Central Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions on July 13, 2023.
Will get a chance to adopt old pension scheme
The Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions had issued an office memo on 13 July 2023. In which it was said that various High Court decisions and CAT decisions in which such government employees who were appointed before or after January 1, 2004 but the advertisement for recruitment or the notification for appointment were issued for NPS on December 22, 2003. And those who are getting the benefit of NPS will be given a chance to choose the option of Old Pension Scheme.
In such a situation, the members selected under All India Services in Civil Services Examination 2003, Civil Services Examination 2004 and All India Forest Service Examination 2003 will be covered under this provision. However, the officers will have to apply for adopting OPS in the state cadre they fall under.
Government employees will get relief
Obviously, due to this decision of the Madhya Pradesh Government and the circular issued by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, there will be relief to many government employees who were appointed before the implementation of NPS or the advertisement for appointment was issued earlier. Such a government employee will get an option to adopt the Old Pension Scheme.
