Summary: The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, issued an Office Memorandum dated 27 October 2026 clarifying the treatment of subscriber and Government contributions under the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) during periods of absence from duty. The clarification concerns Central Government civil employees covered by the UPS and refers to the Central Civil Services (Implementation of Unified Pension Scheme under the National Pension System) Rules, 2025, which govern their service-related matters. The memorandum explains that, under Rule 6(3), a subscriber is not required to make contributions for a period of absence from duty, whether on leave or otherwise, where neither pay nor leave salary is payable. Accordingly, the applicability of the subscriber contribution requirement during an absence depends on whether pay or leave salary is payable for that period. The clarification specifically addresses periods without such payment and does not state that contributions cease during every category of leave or absence. The Department further refers to Rule 7(2), under which, subject to the proviso to Rule 7(1), the Government is not required to contribute for a period during which the subscriber is not required to make contributions in accordance with the rules. Thus, the memorandum addresses both the subscriber’s contribution and the corresponding Government contribution during qualifying periods of absence. All Ministries and Departments have been requested to communicate these provisions to personnel handling UPS and National Pension System matters in their establishments, including attached and subordinate offices, to ensure strict implementation.
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 and Contribution by the Government during the period of absence from duty – 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 (3) of these rule provides that no contribution shall be made by the subscriber during the period of absence from duty (whether on leave or otherwise) for which no pay or leave salary is payable.
(3) Rule 7 (2) of these rule provides that subject to the proviso to rule 7 (1), no contribution shall be made by the government for the period during which the subscriber is not required to make contribution in accordance with these rules.
(4) All Ministries/Departments are requested that the above provisions regarding Contribution by the subscriber to the Unified Pension Scheme and Contribution by the Government during the period of absence from duty 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)
