Old Pension Scheme: Centre allows select government employees to opt for OPS. Who is eligible?

The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) clarified that eligible compassionate ground appointees can opt for the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) instead of the National Pension System (NPS).

Eligible employees must have applied for compassionate appointment on or before December 31, 2003, regardless of when they joined service after January 1, 2004.

The benefit applies only to compassionate ground appointees, not to all Central government employees or NPS subscribers.

The DoPPW's Office Memorandum dated June 22, 2026, treats the application date as the crucial date for pension coverage under CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021.