Unified Pension Scheme: New Central Govt employees must submit Form A1 by last date, here's why

The last date to opt for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) is near for central government employees who are covered under the National Pension System (NPS). If you are a new joinee in the central government, you need to submit Form A1 to opt for UPS. Let's understand why it is important.

According to the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), all employees who joined the central government service on or after April 1, 2025 and intend to opt for the UPS may physically submit the duly filled Form A1.

They can submit the Form A1 to their respective nodal offices/ or the Head of the training Institute/ or the Head of their current Institute, as applicable, on or before the specified due date, which is September 30.

Thereafter, the Head of Institutes will be required to forward the same to the cadre controlling authority or the DDO, where the employees will be posted.

New joiners have to submit Form A1 as they may not have yet submitted forms to generate their Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN).

In a circular dated September 19, PFRDA said, "It has been observed that several New Joinees who entered Central Government service on or after 01.04.2025, and are posted at various locations, may not yet have submitted their form for generation of Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN)."

The Government had notified UPS on January 24, 2025. Further, the PFRDA (Operationalization of the Unified Pension Scheme under NPS) Regulations, 2025 were notified on March 3, 2025. The Central Civil Services (Implementation of Unified Pension Scheme under National Pension System) Rules, 2025, were notified on September 2, 2025.