EPFO puts on hold the option for its employees to adopt UPS

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has put on hold its earlier order allowing EPFO employees to adopt a Unified Pension Scheme, saying the matter is still under consideration.

“It is to inform that the matter regarding implementation of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for the employees of the Central Board is still under consideration,” EPFO said in an office order issued on Monday.

“Accordingly, the circular dated 28th March 2025 may be treated as kept in abeyance until further orders,” it added.


The office order has been issued to all additional central provident fund commissioners as well regional provident fund commissioners.

The executive committee of the central board of trustees (CBT) of EPFO, in its 112th meeting in February this year, approved the adoption of the UPS for EPFO employees.

Further, it had given all eligible employees three months’ time from April 1, 2025 to exercise their option to be covered under UPS.

“The option once exercised shall be final and irrevocable,” it had said in its March order.

All EPFO employees in service as on April 1, 2025 and covered under the National Pension System (NPS) were eligible for benefits under UPS. Other eligible employees included new recruits joining EPFO on or after April 1, 2025 and the employees who have superannuated or voluntarily retired before March 31, 2025 but were covered under NPS.

Even the legally wedded spouse of a subscriber who had superannuated or retired and had demised before exercising the option was also eligible to adopt UPS.