Summary: The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, has issued an Office Memorandum dated 27 October 2026 clarifying the requirement for subscribers to contribute to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) during their probationary period. The memorandum, bearing No. 57/03/2022-P&PW(B)/8361, refers to the Central Civil Services (Implementation of Unified Pension Scheme under the National Pension System) Rules, 2025, which govern service-related matters concerning Central Government civil employees covered under UPS. The Department specifically draws attention to Rule 6(6) of the 2025 Rules. This provision states that a subscriber shall contribute to the Unified Pension Scheme during the period of probation. Accordingly, the memorandum clarifies that the probationary status of a covered employee does not, by itself, dispense with the requirement to make subscriber contributions under UPS. The communication is confined to the contribution obligation during probation and does not prescribe any separate contribution rate, calculation methodology, exemption or additional eligibility condition. The Office Memorandum further requests all Ministries and Departments to communicate the provision to personnel responsible for handling UPS and National Pension System (NPS) matters relating to employees. The instruction extends to attached and subordinate offices under the respective Ministries and Departments. The objective is to ensure that officials administering pension-related matters are aware of the requirement under Rule 6(6) and implement it strictly. The memorandum has been issued by Samin Ansari, Under Secretary to the Government of India, and addressed to all Ministries, Departments and Organisations covered by the standard distribution list.
No. – 57/03/2022-P&PW(B)/8361
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare
Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market,
New Delhi, Dated the 27th October, 2026
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Contribution by the subscriber to the Unified Pension Scheme during the period of probation – reg.
The undersigned is directed to say that Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare has notified the Central Civil Services (Implementation of Unified Pension Scheme under the National Pension System) Rules, 2025 to govern the service-related matters of Central Government civil employees covered under the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
(2) Rule 6 (6) of these rule provides that the subscriber shall contribute to the Unified Pension Scheme during the period of probation.
(3) All Ministries/Departments are requested that the above provisions regarding Contribution by the subscriber to the Unified Pension Scheme during the period of probation may be brought to the notice of the personnel dealing with the UPS/ NPS matters of employees in the Ministry/Department and attached/subordinate offices thereunder, for strict implementation.
(Samin Ansari)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
To
All Ministries/Departments/Organisations,
(As per standard list)
