The Center has decided to provide a one-time option for officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) to get the benefits of the old pension scheme when they are appointed on the left December 22, 2003 is still the cut-off date for the announcement of the national pension system (NPS).
The move is based on the judgments of various courts allowing the benefits of the pre-defined benefit pension scheme to government servants appointed on or after January 1, 2004 against posts/vacancies -advertise for recruitment before NPS notification.
The Center said it has received representations in this regard from officers of the All India Services (AIS) – the IAS, the IPS and the IFoS.
The matter was examined in consultation with the Department of Expenditure and it was decided that AIS officers, appointed against a post/vacancy advertised/notified for recruitment before the date of notification of NPS (ie 22.12. 2003) and who are covered under NPS on joining service on or after 01.01.2004, may be given a one-time option to be covered under the provisions of the old pension scheme…,” said the order which issued by the Personnel Ministry.
Therefore, AIS members selected through civil service examination, 2003 and 2004, and Indian Forest Service examination, 2003 are eligible to be covered under these provisions, it added.
“This option will be available to the concerned service members latest by 30th November, 2023,” said the order issued on Thursday.
Service members, who are eligible to exercise the option in accordance with these guidelines but do not exercise this option on the due date, will continue to be covered by NPS, it added.
The option once available shall be final, the order said.
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