Entitlement on discharge from service on account of invalidation to a Central Government servant opted for Unified Pension Scheme under the NPS: DoP&PW O.M. dated 29.10.2025
No. – 57/03/2022-P&P W(B)/8361(8)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare
Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market,
New Delhi, Dated the 29th October, 2025
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Entitlement on discharge from service on account of invalidation to a Central Government servant opted for Unified Pension Scheme under the NPS.
The undersigned is directed to say that Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare has notified the Central Civil Services (Implementation of Unified Pension Scheme under the National Pension System) Rules, 2025 and the Central Civil Services (Payment of Gratuity under National Pension System ) Rules, 2021 which are applicable from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, to govern service related matters and for grant of gratuity respectively to Central Government civil employees opted for Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) under the National Pension System (NPS).
(2). Rule 17 of the Central Civil Services (Implementation of Unified Pension Scheme under the National Pension System) Rules, 2025 provides for entitlement on discharge from service on account of invalidation of a Central Government servant opted for UPS under NPS. Rule 17 of these rules provides that if a Central Government employee opted for UPS under NPS, where the provisions of section 20 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (49 of 2016) are not applicable, intends to retire from the scrvice on account of any bodily or mental infirmity which permanently incapacitates him for the service, he may apply to the Head of Department for benefits of retirement on invalidation. An application for benefits on retirement on invalidation may also be submitted by the spouse of the Subscriber failing which by a member of the family of the Subscriber, if the Head of Department is satisfied that the Subscriber himself 1s not in a position to submit such application on account of the bodily or mental infirmity.
(3). The Head of Office or the Head of Department shall, within fifteen days of the receipt of application, request the specified medical authority for examination of the Subscriber within thirty days of receipt of such request. A copy of the letter requesting for examination by the medical authority shall be endorsed to the Subscriber.
(4). The Subscriber shall appear before the concerned medical authority for medical examination on the date fixed by that authority. The medical authority shall examine the Subscriber to ascertain whether or not the Subscriber is fit for further service or whether he is fit for further service of less laborious character than that which he had been doing.
(5). No medical certificate of incapacity for service may be granted unless the medical authority has received a request from the Head of his Office or Head of Department for medical examination of the Subscriber. A lady doctor shall be included as a member of the Medical Board when a woman candidate is to be examined.
(6). Where the medical authority has found a Subscriber not fit for further service or has found him fit for further service of less laborious character than that which he had been doing, it shall issue a Medical Certificate in Format-1. If the Subscriber is found to be unfit for further service, he may be granted benefits on retirement on invalidation.
(7). If the Subscriber, has been found 10 be fit for further service of less laborious character than that which he had been doing, he shall, provided he is willing to be so employed, be employed on lower post and if there be no means of employing him even on a lower post, he may be granted benefits on retirement on invalidation.
(8). Where a Subscriber, who had exercised option or in whose case the default option under rule 10 of the CCS(Implementation of UPS under NPS) Rules, 2025 is for availing benefits under the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021 or the Central Civil Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, 2023, and in whose case the provision of section 20 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (49 of 2016) are not applicable, retires on account of any bodily or mental infirmity which permanently incapacitates him for the service, further action will be taken by the Head of Office for disbursement of benefits in accordance with the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules.
(9). If the Subscriber, avails the benefits under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, the individual corpus under the Unified Pension Scheme of the subscriber shall be closed and the government contributor. and returns thereon in the individual corpus of the subscriber shall be transferred to government account. The remaining amount in the individual corpus shall be paid to the subscriber in lump sum.
(10). Where a Subscriber, who had exercised option or in whose case the default option under rule 10 of these rules is for availing benefits under the Unified Pension Scheme and in whose case the provision of section 20 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (49 of 2016) are not applicable, retires from the service on account of any bodily or mental infirmity which permanently incapacitates him for the service, he may be granted benefits in accordance with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Operationalisation of Unified Pension Scheme under the National Pension System) Regulations, 2025.
(11). In the event of discharge of a Central Government servant opted for UPS under National Pension System from service on account of invalidation or disablement and who on such discharge has availed benefits under UPS, in addition to the benefits available from under UPS, employee would also be eligible for death gratuity in accordance with rulc 22 of the Central Civil Services (Payment of Gratuity under NPS) Rules, 2021.
(12). All Ministries/Departments are requested that the above provisions regarding disciplinary proceeding in respect to Central Government employees opted for UPS under NPS may be brought to the notice of the personnel dealing with the pensionary benefits in the Ministry/Department and attached/subordinate offices thereunder, for strict implementation.
(S. Chakrabati)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
To
All Ministries/Departments/Organisations,
(As per standard list)
COMMENTS