India Central Govt Employees Enroll 118,000 in Unified Pension Scheme

Over 118,000 central government workers have opted for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) as of 19 July 2026, representing about 4.3 % of the 2.76 million employees covered by the National Pension System. The scheme, launched on 1 April 2025, guarantees a minimum monthly pension of Rs 10,000 and a payout of at least 50 % of the last salary, along with retirement and death gratuity benefits. The original deadline to choose UPS was 30 November 2025, which was extended after employee feedback.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Parliament that a one‑time “one‑way switch” allows employees to revert to the NPS if desired, and that no further changes to UPS are under consideration. About 25,756 retired subscribers are also eligible for additional benefits under the new scheme.