Section 3 of The Unified Pension Scheme
(1) The option to avail benefits under UPS shall be available to the
following category of persons–
(i) An existing Central Government employee in service as on 1st April 2025, who is covered under NPS, in terms of sub
section (1) of section 20 of the Act;
(ii) A new recruit in the Central Government services, who joins service on or after the 1st day of April 2025;
(iii) (a)A Central Government employee who was covered under NPS and who has superannuated or voluntarily retired
or has retired under Fundamental Rules 56(j) (which is not treated as penalty under Central Civil Services (Classification,
Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965), on or before 31st March 2025; or
(b) the legally wedded spouse in case of a subscriber who has superannuated or retired and has demised prior to exercising
the option for UPS.
(2) The exercise of option in respect of an eligible employee to be covered under UPS shall be undertaken: –
(i) within three months from 1st April 2025, or within such extended timelines if any, allowed by the Central Government,
in respect of a person mentioned under clause (i) and clause(iii) of sub-regulation (1); and
(ii) within thirty days, from the date of joining Central Government services or within such extended timelines, if any,
allowed by the Central Government, in respect of a person mentioned under sub-clause (ii) of sub-regulation (1)
(3) The option once exercised shall be final and irrevocable.