Archive · 4 Aug 2026
Finance Minister Confirms No Changes to Unified Pension Scheme
The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) is a new pension plan for people who work for the Indian government.
It started on April 1, 2025, and gives workers a steady monthly payment after they retire.
On Monday, the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, said the government will not change or replace this plan.
She also said that the deadline for people to join the UPS was moved to November 30, 2025.
Workers who join can still get tax benefits and can switch back to the older National Pension System if they want.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman confirmed no proposals to change or replace the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
As of July 19, 2026, 118,195 employees had opted for UPS, including new hires, existing staff, and retirees.
UPS, launched April 1, 2025, offers inflation‑indexed, assured monthly payouts under the National Pension System.
The cut‑off date to opt for UPS was extended to November 30, 2025, and retirement and death gratuity benefits were extended to UPS participants.
UPS participants receive tax benefits similar to NPS and can switch back to NPS once via a one‑way facility.
- Who
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
- What
- No proposals to change or replace the Unified Pension Scheme
- When
- Monday
- Where
- Lok Sabha, India
- Why
- To clarify the status of the UPS for central government employees
- Scheme
- Unified Pension Scheme
- Effective Date
- April 1, 2025
- Participants
- 118,195 employees
- Cut‑off Date
- November 30, 2025
- Tax Benefits
- Extended to UPS
