On August 24, the Union Government approved the New Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), providing assured pensions to government employees after retirement. The scheme is set to take effect on April 1, 2025, as announced by the government. This decision comes in response to widespread dissatisfaction among government employees with the New Pension Scheme (NPS).
States governed by opposition parties, including Himachal Pradesh in 2023, Rajasthan in 2022, Chhattisgarh in 2022, and Punjab in 2022, have reverted to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). As a result, the Centre’s introduction of a new pensions scheme marks a significant political move ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand.
What are the Key Components of the New Pension Scheme?
The New Pension Scheme (NPS) is already established as a key component of India’s pension framework, so examining how the new Unified Pension Scheme distinguishes itself is crucial.
This article explores the distinct features and benefits of the new Unified Pension Scheme compared to the NPS, offering insights into what these changes mean for government employees planning their retirement. By understanding these differences, potential retirees can make informed decisions about their financial futures.
Why was the New Pension Scheme (NPS) Introduced?
The New Pension Scheme (NPS) was introduced on January 1, 2004, and replaced the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) as part of the Indian government’s pension reform efforts. Employees joining government services after this date were placed under NPS. Under the OPS, government pensions were fixed at 50% of the last drawn basic salary, with an additional dearness allowance to offset the rising cost of living.
The NPS was introduced by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government to address the OPS’s fundamental issues, such as its unfunded status and lack of a dedicated pension corpus. This shortfall significantly increased the government’s fiscal liabilities, which became unsustainable. The OPS proved increasingly untenable as life expectancy improved and health facilities advanced.
Data reveals that pension liabilities have surged dramatically over the past three decades. In 1990-91, the Centre’s pension expenditure was Rs 3,272 crores, with the state’s total being Rs 3,131 crores, while the state’s expenditure had risen 125 times to Rs 3,86,001 crores.
Why was the New Pension Scheme Opposed?
The New Pension Scheme faced opposition for several reasons. It introduced two major changes: it eliminated the guaranteed pension feature and shifted the responsibility for funding the pension to the employees, with the government matching their contributions. Under the NPS, employees contribute 10% of their basic salary and dearness allowances (increased to 14% in 2019), and the matching contribution by the government.
Participants in the NPS can select from various investment options, varying from low to high risk, managed by pension fund managers affiliated with public sector banks, financial institutions and private companies. The nine pension fund managers, including those sponsored by SBI, LIC, UTI, HDFC, ICICI, Kotak Mahindra, Aditya Birla, Tata, and Max. Offers these schemes.
For government employees, the NPS provided lower guaranteed returns than the OPS and implied employee contribution, which was a significant departure from the previous scheme. This shift was a major driving opposition to the NPS. In response to these concerns, Prime Minister Narendra Modi established a committee chaired by Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan (then Finance Secretary) in 2023. This committee conducted over 100 meetings with various organizations and states. The committee’s recommendations have led to the introduction of the UPS.
Key Features of the New Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)
Crucially, unlike the NPS, the new Unified Pension Scheme promises retirees a fixed pension amount. It was one of the major criticisms of the NPS by government employees. According to the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the key features of the new Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) are:
- It would amount to 50% of an employee’s average basic pay, drawn over the last 12 months before superannuation for a minimum service of 25 years. The amount would proportionately go down for a lesser service period, up to a minimum of 10 years of service.
- In the case of superannuation, after a minimum of 10 years of service, UPS provides an assured minimum pension of Rs. 10,000 per month.
- Upon a retiree’s death, the employee’s immediate family would be eligible for 60% of the pension last drawn by them.
- The above three persons would receive dearness relief, calculated based on the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers, as is the case with serving employees.
- The new Unified Pension Scheme will benefit 23 lakh central government employees.
- The state governments can also opt for the Unified Pension Scheme. If the state governments opt for UPS, the number of beneficiaries will be around 90 lakhs.
Who can Avail of the New Unified Pension Scheme Benefits?
According to Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan, the New Unified Pension Scheme will be implemented starting April 1, 2025. It will also apply to all individuals who have retired under the NPS since 2004. Those already retired under the NPS will adjust their arrears against the amounts already received. The government has estimated that the cost of paying these arrears will be Rs 800 crores, with an expected annual cost increase of approximately Rs 6250 crores in the first years.
Comparing UPS, NPS, and OPS
Below is a brief comparison between UPS, NPS, and OPS:
Beneficiary
Under the UPS, only central government employees are currently beneficiaries, provided the state governments adopt this scheme. Under the NPS, private and government employees can open accounts to avail themselves of the benefits of this scheme. While under the OPS, only government employees are the beneficiaries.
Contribution
Under UPS, the employee’s contribution from his salary is 10%, while the government contributes 18.5% of his salary. Under the NPS, the employee’s contribution is 10%; however, the government’s contribution is 14%. Under the UPS government, no money is deducted from the salary for the pension scheme.
Lump Sum
Under UPS, the employee is entitled to a lump sum. The National Productivity Council (NPC) does not have such a provision. However, the OPC does have a provision for a Government Provident Fund (GPF).
Security
The NPC is a scheme linked to the share market. The contribution makes an employee eligible for 60% after retirement, and 40% is given as an annuity. UPC and OPC are more secure as they are not linked to the share market.
Fixed Pension
Under UPS, employees are given a fixed pension of 50% of the average salary for the last 12 months after retirement. Under the OPS, 50% of the last basic salary is also granted after retirement. However, no fixed pension is guaranteed under the NPS after retirement.
Dearness Allowance
Under the UPS, service employees will be granted a Dearness Allowance based on the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW). Under the NPS, no Dearness Allowance is given after every six months. Whereas in the case of OPC, a Dearness Allowance is granted after every six months.
Gratuity
Under the UPS, a lump sum amount will be given after retirement apart from the gratuity. Under NPC, there is no proper provision for gratuity after retirement. While under the OPC, a gratuity of up to 20 lakh rupees can be availed.
Family Pension
Under UPS, a family pension is granted upon the employee’s death. Under OPS, a family pension is granted only if the employee dies during his service. NPS has no such provision for a family pension, and the government uses the saved amount.
Tax on Interest
Under UPS, there is still no clarity regarding the tax on interest. Under OPS, there is no tax on the interests incurred from the Government Provident Fund after retirement. In NPS, if any profits are earned from the share market, they are liable for taxation.
Perform tax filing to navigate potential liabilities and ensure your tax obligations are clear under the new Unified Pension Scheme.
Mandatory Investment
Under UPS, the retired employee is not required to make any investments to obtain benefits. Similarly, in the OPC, no investments were mandatory for retired employees. However, in NPS, 40% of their NPC fund has to be invested.
Minimum Monthly payout
In NPC, there is no minimum monthly payout, while in UPC, it is Rs. 10,000/-.
Benefits of the New Unified Pension Scheme
Given below are some of the significant benefits of the new Unified Pension Scheme-
1. Fixed Pension
Under this scheme, employees who have been offering their services for at least 25 years are guaranteed 50% of their last basic salary.
2. Minimum Monthly Payout
Even employees who have not completed a minimum of 25 years of service but have crossed 10 years will be eligible for a minimum monthly payout of Rs. 10 000/-.
3. Family Pension
Under this scheme, on the employee’s death, 60% of the pension is granted to the spouse as the family pension.
4. Lump Sum Payment
Under this scheme, a lump sum amount is given after retirement.
5. Dearness Allowance
Dearness Allowance is given considering the inflation.
Conclusion
The new Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) combines all the good things from the OPS and NPS and eliminates those that did not serve. While the OPS was more beneficial for the employees than the NPS, it took a toll on the government’s funds. The NPC brought more financial relief to the government but was comparatively less beneficial than OPS.
NPS was also prone to market risks. UPS took the employee and government contribution feature to the pension, increased its contribution to it as well, and offered 50% of the basic salary as pension, a feature adopted from the OPS.
There are arguments that the NPS could bring more returns because it was linked to the market. However, NPC is prone to market risks, and UPS is indeed seen as a secure option that benefits not only the employee after retirement but also his family.
Stay ahead by visiting our website corpbiz and get legal advice to navigate the new Unified Pension Scheme and safeguard your retirement.
Frequently Asked Question
What is a new Unified Pension Scheme?
The new Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) is a scheme for central government employees that offers several benefits to the employees after retirement and shall be applicable from April 1, 2025.
What is the structure of contribution in UPC?
In UPC, the employee contributes 10% of his salary, while the government contributes 18.5% of the employee's salary to the pension, unlike in NPC, where the government contributes 14% of the employee's salary to the pension.
Is there a gratuity provision in UPS?
Yes, UPS grants gratuity and lump sum amounts for the retirement of a government employee.
Is the UPS applicable to all government employees?
UPS will be applicable only to central government employees from April 1, 2025. Adoption of UPS is optional for state governments.
What are the provisions for family pensions in NPS and UPS?
There is no provision for NPC for family pension, whereas the UPS provides a family pension on the employee's death that amounts to 60% of the employee's pension.
Will the employees be given Dearness Allowance after retirement?
Yes, the Dearness Allowance will be given to the retiree under UPS. However, it will be based on inflation.
Who is eligible for 50% of the last basic salary under the UPS as a pension?
Central government employees who have completed 25 years of service are eligible for 50% of their last basic salary. However, employees who have completed at least 10 years of service are eligible for a minimum payout of Rs. 10,000.
On the recommendations of which committee was this UPS introduced?
The committee, chaired by T.V. Somanathan, recommended the Unified Pension Scheme after conducting over 100 meetings with various organizations and states.
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