Adoption of the Unified Pension Scheme for EPFO employees: EPFO Order

Adoption of the Unified Pension Scheme for EPFO employees: EPFO Order dated 28.03.2025

Employees Provident Fund Organisation
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Head Office
Plate A Ground Floor Block II East Kidwai Nagar New Delhi-110023

No. (E-981962)HRD-II/60/2025/UPS-Adoption

Date: 28 MAR 2025

TO,

All Additional Central P.F. Commissioners (HQ)/Director (PDNASS),
Ail Additional Central P.F. Commissioners (Zones)/Addl. CPFC(ASD),
All RPFCs/OIC-in-Charge of Region.

Subject: Adoption of the Unified Pension Scheme for EPFO employees-reg

Madam/Sir,

The Executive Committee, CBT in its 112th meeting held on 25.02.2025 vide agenda item no. 03 has approved the adoption of the Unified Pension Scheme for EPFO employees.

2. Further, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) vide its notification dated 19.03.2025 has notified PFRDA (Operationalisation of Unified Pension scheme under National Pension System) Regulations, 2025. These regulations lay down the framework to operationalise the UPS notified by the Central Government and define the obligations, roles and responsibilities of intermediaries and such Central Government offices as are involved with implementation thereof, and for the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

3. The option to avail benefits under UPS are available to employees in service as on 1st April 2025 and are covered under NPS; (ii) new recruits joining on or after the 1st April 2025; and (iii) (a)those employee who was covered under NPS who has superannuated or voluntarily retired or has retired under Fundamental Rules 56(j) (which is not treated as penalty under Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965), on or before 31st March 2025.(iii)(b) The legally wedded spouse of a subscriber who has Superannuated or retired and has demised before exercising the option is also eligible.

4, Eligible employees must exercise their option to be covered under UPS using the relevant form as provided in the PFRDA (Operationalisation of Unified Pension Scheme under National Pension System) Regulations, 2025 in the prescribed timeline:-

1. within three months from 1st April 2025, or within such extended timelines if any, allowed by the Central Government, in respect of a person mentioned under clause (i) and clause(iii) of sub-regulation (1) of regulation 3; and
2. within thirty days, from the date of joining service or within such extended timelines, if any, allowed by the Central Government, in respect of a person mentioned under sub-clause (ii) of sub-regulation (1) of regulation 3

5. The option once exercised shall be final and irrevocable.

6. All offices may ensure to take options from the eligible employees within the prescribed time-limit.

(This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority)

Yours faithfully,

(Saurabh Tripathi)
Regional P.F. Commissioner-I, HRD-I