By 2025, the revamping of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) demand has become fairly turgid in India. Along with protests, legal issues, and debates on policies, government employees are vigorously trying to do away with the market-linked National Pension System (NPS) and replace it with the guaranteed benefits of OPS.
What Is the Old Pension Scheme?
OPS is a pension plan for government employees who receive a regular and fixed monthly pension corresponding to their last duel salary. It had been ultimately replaced by NPS in 2004, which is an investment approach where the funds are subject to market risks and no fixed pension is guaranteed. The majority of the employees now want OPS back because of its financial security.
Latest Developments in 2025
- Jharkhand High Court Ruling: All the employees who had applied for the jobs before January 1, 2004 are entitled to OPS, even if they later joined after the NPS cutoff.
- Protests Pan India: The Employee groups, such as the All-India NPS Employees Federation, are not just planning to hold the protest at Jantar Mantar on November 9 but also have other protests throughout the country.
- Tamil Nadu Protest: CPS Abolition Movement organized protests to persuade the government to confirm OPS by referring to unpaid gratuity and family pensions.
- Unified Pension Scheme (UPS): Launched in 2024, just 4.5% of the NPS subscribers chose to participate thus indicating very low acceptance.
Key Updates in Table Form
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Jharkhand HC Verdict | OPS allowed for pre-2004 job ads |
| UPS Adoption Rate (as of Sep 2025) | Only 4.5% of 23.93 lakh NPS employees opted in |
| Major Protest Planned | Nov 9 at Jantar Mantar, Delhi |
| Tamil Nadu Protest | Demands OPS restoration and unpaid benefits |
Why It Matters
- OPS provides a lifelong guaranteed pension, contrary to NPS.
- Many staff members are apprehensive about receiving their retirement income based on the market.
- There is a mixture of demand from the public and legal pressure for a change in the policy.
Final Thoughts
The Old Pension Scheme debate in 2025 illustrates the deep concern for post-retirement security. The support from the courts and increasing protests make the demand for the OPS the strongest ever. The question of whether the central government will respond still remains, but the message from lakhs of employees is unequivocal.
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