Nirmala Sitharaman Reports 118,000 Enrolled in Unified Pension Scheme

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed Parliament on August 4, 2026, that the government has no current proposals to change or replace the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). She clarified that because the scheme only became operational on April 1, 2025, the government has not yet conducted a formal review of its performance.

As of July 19, 2026, reports on enrollment figures vary slightly, with Sitharaman citing approximately 118,195 to 118,404 Central Government employees and eligible retirees who have opted into the system. The UPS serves as an optional track under the National Pension System (NPS), designed to provide an assured monthly payout while maintaining a fiscally responsible, contributory structure.

The scheme provides a pension equal to 50% of the average basic pay from the final 12 months of service, alongside inflation-linked revisions and a family pension set at 60% of the employee's pension. Other benefits include retirement and death gratuities and tax parity with the NPS. To accommodate employees and associations, the Ministry of Finance previously extended the enrollment deadline to November 30, 2025. The framework also allows a one-time facility for subscribers to revert to the NPS.