With the deadline for switching from National Pension System (NPS) to Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) is coming up on September 30, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), has issued fresh guidelines for subscribers who may be facing issues while submitting their forms online.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PFRDA has said "In case of unavailability of the online system or any technical glitch in the CRA system, we advise physical submission of #UnifiedPensionScheme (UPS) requests to nodal offices till 30th September 2025. All stakeholders are requested to ensure timely submission to avoid last-minute rush."
Attached in the post is the circular issued on September 16, 2025, PFRDA said that if the CRA system (Central Recordkeeping Agency system) is down or subscribers face any technical issues while submitting their option forms online, they can instead submit a physical form. The filled form must be handed over to the concerned nodal office before the deadline, which will then process it further. This option has been allowed in addition to the existing online submission facility.
The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) was introduced in April 2025 as part of the NPS framework. The government has recently allowed a one-time option to central government employees who joined service between April 1 and August 31, 2025, and initially opted for the NPS, to switch to UPS.
What is the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)
As part of the NPS framework, the Central Government introduced the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) on April 1, 2025. The UPS, unlike NPS, assures a guaranteed payout based on prescribed conditions, giving employees more certainty about their retirement benefits.
How to switch to UPS
Central government employees who wish to move from the National Pension System (NPS) to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) must download the option form from the official website https://www.npscra.nsdl.co.in/ups.php. The filled form has to be submitted to the concerned nodal office by September 30, 2025. The nodal office will process the request further.
Who can choose UPS
Any central government employee who is still working on April 1, 2025, and is covered by NPS can switch to UPS. Additionally, those who began working for the central government on or after April 1, 2025, can also choose UPS.
Can retired workers apply?
People who retired under NPS on or before March 31, 2025 can choose UPS if they retired after at least 10 years of qualifying service, or they retired according to Fundamental Rules 56(j), which say that retirement is not a punishment, or under UPS, the legally married spouse of a deceased subscriber can get benefits.
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