Unified Pension Scheme deadline extended, last date for NPS to UPS switch is September 30

3 min read | Updated on June 24, 2025, 08:50 IST

SUMMARY

The last date to apply for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) has been extended by three months. UPS is an assured pension scheme available as an option for Central Government employees covered by NPS. The new cut-off date to apply for UPS is September 30, 2025.

Now, eligible employees can apply for UPS till September 30, 2025. | Image source; Shutterstock

The Finance Ministry has extended the cut-off date for exercising the option under the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) by three months. The new deadline to apply for switching from the National Pension System (NPS) to UPS is September 30, 2025. The previous cut-off date was June 30, 2025.

UPS is an assured pension scheme available as an option for Central Government employees currently covered by NPS.

The Ministry of Finance had notified the unified pension scheme for eligible Central Government employees on January 24, 2025.

To operationalise the UPS framework, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) had notified the PFRDA (Operationalisation of the Unified Pension Scheme under NPS) Regulations, 2025 on March 19, 2025.

Central Government employees were earlier allowed to exercise the option to switch from NPS to UPS till June 30, 2025. Now it has been extended till September end.

"As per the regulations, eligible existing employees, past retirees, and the legally wedded spouses of deceased past retirees were given a period of three months i.e., upto 30th June 2025 to exercise their option under the scheme," the Finance Ministry said in a statement on Monday (June 23, 2025).

Also read: NPS to UPS migration is Live: Check CRA link, process, eligibility to switch to Unified Pension Scheme

According to the statement, the cut-off date has been extended because of representations from various stakeholders, including employees' representatives.

"In view of the representations received from various stakeholders requesting an extension of the cut-off date, the Government of India has decided to extend the cut-off date for exercising the option for UPS by three months i.e., upto 30th September 2025 for eligible existing employees, past retirees, and the legally wedded spouses of deceased past retirees," the Finance Ministry said.

Last week, the Government clarified that the assured pension scheme will continue to provide retirement gratuity and death gratuity benefits to employees switching from NPS to UPS.

"... it is clarified that the Central Government employees covered by Unified Pension Scheme shall be eligible for benefit of 'Retirement gratuity and Death gratuity' under the provisions of the Central Civil Service (Payment of Gratuity under National Pension System) Rules, 2021," the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) had said in an office memorandum dated June 18, 2025.

No update of 8th CPC yet

The Central Government employees are still waiting for an update on the formation of the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

Recently, the Staff Side (JCM), which represents employees, had urged the Government to expedite the announcement of the Terms of Reference of the 8th CPC and the appointment of members, including the chairman, of the new pay panel. They had also urged the Government to clarify the provision of 8th CPC benefits for Central Government pensioners.