The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has issued a circular dated 26 June 2025, extending the deadline for exercising the option to opt into the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) under the National Pension System (NPS). Initially scheduled to conclude within three months from 1 April 2025, the cut-off date has now been extended by three additional months, allowing eligible individuals to make their choice until 30 September 2025. This extension applies to: (i) existing Central Government employees who were in service and covered under NPS as of 1 April 2025 and wish to migrate to UPS, and (ii) Central Government employees who were covered under NPS and have either superannuated, retired voluntarily, or retired under Fundamental Rule 56(j)—provided such retirement was not considered a penalty under the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965—on or before 31 March 2025. It also includes claims by legally wedded spouses of deceased retirees who had not exercised the UPS option before passing. The circular is directed to relevant Central and State Government accounting and disbursing officers, CRAs, and the NPS Trust, instructing them to take note and act accordingly to facilitate eligible claims within the revised timeframe.
PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Circular No.: PAFRDA 20 25/04/SUP-CG-SG/01 | Dated: 26.06.2025
To,
The PrAOs, PAOs, DDOs of Central Government,
Existing Employees, Eligible Past Retirees and the Legally Wedded Spouses of Deceased Past Retirees of Central Government covered under National Pension System (NPS),
The DTAs, DTOs, DDOs of State Governments with respect to AIS Officials,
The Central Recordkeeping Agencies (CRAs),
National Pension System Trust.
Subject: Extension of cut-off date for exercising Option of Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) under NPS by three months i.e upto 30 September 2025
Please refer to the Regulation 3 (2) (i) of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Operationalisation of the Unified Pension Scheme under National Pension System) Regulations, 2025 dated 19th March 2025, wherein, it is provided that the exercise of option in respect of an eligible employee to be covered under UPS shall be undertaken: – (i) 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 of the above regulations.
2. The Central Government of India has extended the cut-off date for exercising the option for UPS by three months i.e., upto 30t11 September 2025 in respect of the following
(i) migration to UPS from NPS by an existing Central Government employee in service as on 1st April 2025, who is covered under NPS,
(ii) claim by (a)A Central Government employee who was covered under NPS and 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 or (b) the legally wedded spouse in case of a subscriber who has superannuated or retired and has demised prior to exercising the option for UPS.
Yours Sincerely,
(Vikas Kumar Singh)
Chief General Manager
