NC-JCM wants Old Pension Scheme for these employees

On September 3, 2026, the National Council – Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) met with the secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). During the meeting, the NC-JCM requested that vacancy-sanctioned letters issued prior to December 22, 2003, for National Pension System-bound central government employees be considered as a notification to determine their eligibility for the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).

Secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra informed the staff side members of the NC JCM about the issue in a letter dated September 5, 2026. One of the key issues discussed was the provision of the OPS option to certain NPS-bound central government employees. Mishra referred to court decisions that upheld the eligibility of employees recruited against vacancies advertised before the NPS notification date for inclusion under the Pension Scheme of the Central Services (Pension) Rules 1972 (now 2021) in accordance with Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare Office Memorandum dated March 3, 2023.

The NC-JCM emphasized that employees whose recruitment was delayed beyond December 22, 2003, should be treated as having received a notification for the purpose of determining their eligibility for the Old Pension Scheme. The secretary of the DoPT has assured the NC-JCM that the matter will be looked into and appropriate action will be taken.