New Delhi: The Ministry of Finance has announced that September 30, 2025, will be the last date for eligible Central Government employees and retirees under the National Pension System (NPS) to opt for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).

In a notification, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) urged employees to exercise their choice well before the deadline to avoid last-minute complications. Those who choose to remain in NPS will not be allowed to switch to UPS after the cut-off date.

The DFS has also introduced a one-time, one-way switch facility for Central Government employees who have already opted for UPS, allowing them to revert to NPS under certain conditions.

Key conditions for switching back to NPS include:

* The option can be exercised only once.

* It must be done at least one year before superannuation or three months before voluntary retirement, whichever is earlier.

* It will not be permitted in cases of removal, dismissal, compulsory retirement as a penalty, or if disciplinary proceedings are pending.

* Those not exercising the option within the stipulated time will continue under UPS by default.