There is good news for pensioners including employees. They will get the benefit of the old pension scheme. Certain conditions have been set for this. Which will be mandatory to accept. Apart from this, big updates have also come out on the old pension scheme of other states.
OPS 2023, Old Pension Scheme: Demand for old pension scheme has started across the country including the state by the central and state government. Amidst the increasing demand for the same old pension scheme, now the central government has taken an important decision. A committee has been constituted by the Finance Ministry to improve the NPS. On the other hand, instructions have also been given to give the benefit of the old pension scheme to the employees.
Decision to give one time option to officers
In fact, the central government will remove those employees from NPS and include them in the old pension scheme. Whose appointment process was done before 22 December 2003 but their appointment was done on or after 1 January 2004. A memorandum has been issued for this. In which it has now been decided to give one time option to All India Service officers.
OPS benefits to employees
Employees of All India Services, whose appointment notification advertisement of recruitment against any such examination was issued before December 22, 2003 but appointed on or after January 1, 2004 but included in the purview of NPS, such Employees will be given the benefit of OPS. Under this process, those officers will also be included, who have come into service through Civil Services Examination 2003 and Civil Services Examination 2004. Indian Forest Service 2003 officers will also be included in the scope of one time relaxation.
Not only this, such officers will also get the benefit of this scheme. Who was in any other service before 22 December 2003 but has joined IAS, IPS and IFS through competitive examination. Employees working in any service of the center will be benefited for this. They will get the benefit of the old pension scheme because at that time the old pension was applicable in the Central and State Government.
It is mandatory to apply by 30 November
Under the issued order, a letter has been written to the Chief Secretary of all the states and union territories. In which it has been said that officers who fulfill all the conditions should be instructed to apply for inclusion in the old pension scheme. Such officers, who were posted in the state, their cases will be placed before the government. The case of IAS will be looked into by the DoPT, the case of IPS including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the case of IFS by the Ministry of Environment. It will be mandatory for the eligible officer to apply by November 30. Orders for this will be issued on January 31. On March 31, all such officers, who have applied for the old pension scheme. His NPS account will be closed. Along with this, the officers whose NPS amount is deposited, will be transferred to the GPF account.
Update on OPS in Haryana
A big update has come out regarding the old pension scheme in Haryana. In Haryana, preparations have been made to withhold the salaries of 12 department heads, 4 deputy commissioners and 40 SDMs for July. Regarding the matter related to the old pension scheme to the employees, the officials of the Finance Department were asked to answer by writing letters 7 times in 2 months, but the information has not been given from the officials’ office. Expressing displeasure on which the Finance Department has taken action. Warned to stop this month’s salary for not providing information with immediate effect.
In this regard, the Finance Department has informed the Chief Secretary along with the Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary and Commissioner of all the departments. In the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the hearing was held on August 9 in the case of Rameshchandra, belonging to the Transport Department, versus the Government of Haryana. In which it was ordered that after implementing the decision given on July 13, the report has not been submitted, then on August 9, all the Finance Secretaries will have to appear in the court themselves. A letter was written by the Finance Department to all the departments on May 17. In which information was sought regarding the old pension. So far letters have been written 7 times but information has not been made available. After which preparations have been made to stop the salary.
Rajasthan: Big preparation on old pension scheme, circular issued
Major preparations were made by the Rajasthan government on the old pension scheme. Under this circular was issued by the Finance Department. In which all those employees of the state government, who were appointed on or after January 1, 2004, and who have withdrawn money between April 1, 2022 and August 28, 2022 under the new pension scheme, have been asked to return the amount. Depositing money in four installments till July 30, 2023 will be considered for the benefit of the old pension scheme.
The old pension scheme has been implemented in Rajasthan from April 1. According to Vinod Kumar, coordinator of the New Pension Scheme Employees Federation of Rajasthan, talks were held with the government to extend the date of depositing the money. After which the government has extended the date. On the other hand, according to sources, withdrawal of more than ₹ 600 crore contributed by about 80000 employees under the old pension scheme has been done in Rajasthan.
Instructions to deposit money in four installments by July 31
Earlier, government employees had demanded that they be allowed to deposit only the employer’s share withdrawn after retirement under NPS, as in Chhattisgarh, to get the benefits of the old pension scheme. However, the state government did not agree on this. According to the rules of PFRDA, those who are getting family pension under the old pension scheme, they will have to deposit 100% of the amount withdrawn in NSDL under the new pension scheme. The rule cannot be changed for employees who retired before 1 April 2022. That’s why they have been instructed to deposit the money in four installments by July 31.
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