1,18356 HP employees benefited from OPS, notified on January 17, 2023 

The Himachal Pradesh Government informed the assembly on Tuesday that Old pension Scheme was notified on January 17, 2023 and has benefited about 1,18356 employees. This was stated by the Chief Minister while replying to two queries being raised by the Congress member Rajinder Rana, BJP member Vipin Singh Parmar and Prakash Rana. He said that OPS was de-notified on May 15, 2003 to new government employees; however, the government has restored the scheme.

He said that the government is deducting ten percent of salary of employees under New Pension schemes as employees pay under the scheme. In reply to another query raised by Rajinder Rana Chief Minister said that till May 2003 the amount of Rs 9,242.60 crore (including Net Asset Value) of NPS employees has been deposited with the NSDL company.  Employees appointed on a regular basis before May, 2003 are already covered under OPS.  In those cases in which the employees were appointed after May, 2003, but according to the decision of the court they have been given regular appointment from the date before 15.05.2003, such employees have been taken under OPS.  And the money has been returned back.

Replying to another query raised  regarding bringing back the government’s share of the remaining employees deposited in NSDL, the Chief Minister said that correspondence was made with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. Sukhu said that in response to government correspondence it has been informed by the Office that the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development there was no such provision, available as per PFRDA  Act, 2003, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Exits and Withdrawals under NPS ) exchange rule 2015 and other relevant regulations that the employee contribution done and the interest earned thereon could be returned to the State Government. However, according to the decision of the cabinet, correspondence is being done again with the Government of India, he stated.