“…it has been decided that the AIS officers, who have been appointed against a post/vacancy which was advertised/notified for recruitment prior to the date of notification of NPS (i.e. 22.12.2003) and who are covered under NPS on joining Service on or after 01.01.2004, may be granted one-time option to be covered under the provisions of old pension scheme under AIS (DCRB) Rules, 1958,” the DoPT said in an Office Memorandum dated July 13.
AIS officers get their salaries as per recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission for Central Government Employees. Under the old pension scheme, they become eligible for a monthly pension equivalent to 50% of the last drawn pay at the time of retirement/superannuation. However, under NPS, the pension is subject to market-linked returns.
Recently, the Central Government also amended Death-Cum-Retirement benefits rules for AIS officers. (Check notification details here)
Who is eligible to switch from NPS to OPS?
As per the DoPT’s office memorandum, members of AIS selected through Civil Services Examination, 2003, Civil Services Examination, 2004 and Indian Forest Service Examination, 2003 are eligible to be covered under these provisions.
Why this change?
The DoPT said that consequent on the introduction of National Pension System (NPS) vide Ministry of Finance Notification dated 22.12.2003, All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958 and All India Services (Provident Fund) Rules, 1955 were amended to mandate that the members of All India Services (AIS) appointed on or after 01,01.2004 will be covered under NPS, and that the benefits of the old Defined Benefit Pension Scheme and GPF will not be available to them.
However, on the basis of the judgments of various courts and tribunals, benefits of the old Defined Benefit Pension Scheme to Government servants appointed on or after 01.01.2004 against the posts/vacancies advertised for recruitment prior to the notification of NPS (i.e. 22.12.2003), the DoPT received several representations from similarly placed members of AIS requesting an extension of the benefit of pension scheme under NS (DCRB) Rules, 1958.
The DoPT has granted the one-time option after examining the matter in consultation with the Department of Expenditure
