Old Pension Scheme: The struggle of central employees! Will you get 50% confirmed pension after retirement? Government’s masterplan after court’s strictness

New Delhi. A very big and relief news is coming out regarding the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for lakhs of central and state employees across the country. The wish of the employees who have been fighting on the streets for the restoration of OPS for the last decade now seems to be fulfilled. Recently, after the court’s strict remarks during the hearing of a case, the Central Government has suddenly come into action. There is a strong stir in the political and administrative circles that from March 2026, the government can approve the proposal to give 50 percent of their last drawn salary to the employees as fixed pension. If the cabinet agrees to this, it will be no less than a big jackpot for millions of pensioners in the country. Let us understand in this special report of Amar Ujala what is this new masterplan of the government and how will the employees benefit from it. What is the complete mathematics of the Old Pension System (OPS)? The old pension scheme which the employees are continuously demanding, is considered to be the safest support for them in old age. Under OPS, when a government employee retires, he is given a lifetime pension of about 50 percent of his last basic salary. Its biggest feature is that with the increase in Dearness Allowance (DA), the pension also increases automatically. Apart from this, after the death of the employee, the family also gets the benefit of family pension and most importantly, not a single rupee is deducted (contribution) from the employee’s salary for this scheme. Why are the employees unhappy with the New Pension Scheme (NPS)? In the year 2004, the Central Government had discontinued the old pension and implemented the New Pension Scheme (NPS), which is now called the National Pension System. It is operated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The main reason for the displeasure of the employees is that along with the government, the employees also have to contribute a share from their salary. Apart from this, this entire money is invested in the stock market (Market Linked), due to which the pension received at the time of retirement is not fixed, but depends on the returns of the market. Due to this uncertainty, the employees are adamant on the demand for reinstatement of OPS. The middle path of court’s rebuke and ‘hybrid model’. Recently, while hearing various petitions, the court has given clear instructions to the government to make its stand clear on the pension system. After this strictness, the Central Government has decided to call an important cabinet meeting while controlling the damage. Although no official order has been issued yet, sources claim that the government may introduce a ‘Hybrid Model’ in March 2026. Under this new model, employees will be guaranteed to be given at least 50% of their last salary as fixed pension. Also, the benefit of Dearness Allowance (DA) can also be added to it, but for this, employees’ contribution can continue like NPS. This is considered to be a big effort to create a balance between OPS and NPS. Old pension is already restored in these states. Let us tell you that the issue of old pension has also become a big political weapon in the country. Even before the decision of the Central Government, many states of the country have re-implemented the old pension scheme for their employees. Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are prominently included in these states, where the government employees are currently availing the full benefits of OPS. Burden on the government treasury versus the future of the employees: The Central Government and the Finance Ministry have made it clear many times that implementing the old pension scheme as it is will put many times more financial burden on the government treasury in the coming years, which is not good for the economy. But after the ever-increasing pressure from employee organizations and now the intervention of the court, the government is forced to find a middle path. If the 50% salary proposal is implemented, employees will get a fixed income after retirement, protection from inflation, family financial security and complete freedom from stock market risk. At present, all eyes are on the cabinet meetings to be held in March 2026 and the government notification.