o ‘aferr Hea ta / South Central Railway ‘yard aratr4/Headquarters Office, arififer strat/Personnel Branch, fertarrara/Secunderabad, & fi[arz|soormrftea i No.P[R]SO0/NPS/I fRaTH/Date : 46.03.2023 aaetafira/ALL CONCERNED afer neq tara career afte afta ¥. 45/2023 S.C.RAILWAY ESTABLISHMENT SERIAL CIRCULAR No. 4S /2023 Fag: 22.12.2003 a aT sae eet Patera srterartas Tater Bh starter ori ft 1g tara ater a ata Ger woe 3 ears 7 a4 Har (Hara) fra, 1993 7 Tea TAT Sub: Coverage under Railway Services (Pension)Rules, 1993, in place of National Pension System, of those Railway employees who were Recruited against the posts/vacancies advertised notified for Recruitment on or before 22.12.2003. order fara vx tar ars £F.10.03.2023 F oa A. $-43/12/2018-7 HEU (aredté 4.41/2023] A ofafett dora afea aera, antehr sar ara artare Fare Soft or Ate. Sart sfeerfiae ae arr FF. 31.12.2003 ae 03.03.2020 4 mF aftr a. 10/2004 atx 37/2020 ea & afte Fee ara A. ‘A copy of Railway Board’s letter No, D-43/12/2018-F(E) III dated 10.03.2023 [RBE No. 41/2023] together with its enclosure on the above subject is forwarded herewith for information, guidance and necessary action, — Board’s letters dated 31.12.2003 & 03.03.2020 quoted therein were circulated as this office Serial Circular Nos.10/2004 and 37/2020 respectively. ara aetarieat & ata ea Peet ar are ware Pear are af ae coe aT aT, ratte arr flee ara Paver weqa me a, Pree ararat Af atora 2. ra tat apatarét rere 31.08.2023 TH TAT PareT SAA z. Wide publicity may be given to these instructions among the eligible employees for exercising their option, if so desire, within the stipulated time. Proforma of Option form is also enclosed. This option may be exercised by the cligible Railway employee latest by 31.08.2023. aan: Ta Encl: As above (ft Atfrara ara! warfey/faea / SPO/Bills a rye er afta afr For Principal Chief Personnel OfficerWw RBE No#]/2023 GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (BHARAT SARKAR) MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAIL MANTRALAY) (RAILWAY BOARD) No. D-43/42/2018-F(E)III New Delhi, dated: (0-03.2023. ‘The General Managers/Principal Financial Advisers, All Zonal Railways/Production Units etc. DGs of RDSO and NAIR. Subject: Coverage under Rallway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993, in pace of Coverage Mansion System, of those Railway employees wno Wer Nationa Sagainst the. postsivacancies advertisedinotified for recruitment, on or before 22.12.2003. 1k copy of Department of Pension & Pensioners! Wolfare (D0PAPW's) OM. No 571082021 PSPI(G) dated 03" March, 2023 is enclosed herewith for compliance and Guidance. These instructions shall apy mutatis muandls on the Reiways also. Centra! OV Senices (Pension) Rules, 1972 correspond to the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1983, Tne Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance Notification No. 517/2003-ECB & PR. dated 32 12.2003, mentioned in DOP&PW's O.M. dated 03.03.2023 has been circulated vide this office letter No, F(E)|IN72003/PN1/24, dated 31.12.2003 2, Similar to the amendments made in the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1872, ‘and other connected rules, as mentioned in para 1 of the DoP&PW's O.M. dated 03.03.2023, the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1999 and other connected rules were also amended vide Notification No. F(E)II2003/PN1/38 dated 30.12.2003. Further, DoP&PW's OM. No. 57/04/2019-P&PW(B) dated 17.02.2020 was circulated to all Zonal Raiiways/PUs vide letter of even number dated 03.03.2020 3, The Railway servants who exercise option in terms of DoP&PW's OM. dated 03.03.2023 to switch over to the pension scheme under Railway Services (Pension) Rules 41298, shall be required to subscribe to the State Railway Provident Fund (SRPF). As regards accountal of the corpus in the NPS account of the Railway servant, the instructions issued vide Board's letter No. 2020/AC-II21/7, dated 18.09.2020, may be followed { ote Nee ie) (Sanjay Prashar) Deputy Director, Finance(Estt.)Il D.A: as above Railway BoardNo. 57/05/2021-P&PW(B) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions ‘Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, ‘New Delhi, the 03" March , 2023 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Subject: Coverage under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, in place of National Pension System, of those Central Government employees who were recruited against the posts/vacancies advertised /notified for recruitment, on or before 22.12.2003. ‘The undersigned is directed to say that consequent on introduction of National Pension System (NPS) vide Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) Notification No. 5/7/2003-ECB & PR dated 22.12.2003, all Government servants appointed ‘on or after 01.01.2004 to the posts in the Central Government service (except armed forces) are mandatorily covered under the said scheme. The Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 and other connected rules were also amended vide Notification dated 30.12.2003 and, after the said amendment, those rules are not applicable to the Government servants appointed to Government service after 31.12.2003. 2. Subsequently, Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare in consultation with the Department of Personnel & Training, Department of Expenditure and Department of Legal Affairs in the light of the various representations/references and decisions of Hon'ble Courts, issued instructions vide OM No. 57/04/2019-P&PW(B) dated 17.02.2020 giving one time option to Central Government employees who were declared successful for recruitment in the results declared on or before 31.12.2003 against vacancies which occurred before 01.01.2004 and were covered under the National Pension System on joining service on or after 01.01.2004, to be covered under the CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972 ( now 2021), There was fixed time schedule for different activities under the aforesaid OM dated 17.02.2020. 3. Representations have been received in this Department from the Government servants appointed on or after 01.01.2004 requesting for extending the benefit of the pension scheme under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) on the ground that their appointment was made against the posts/vacancies advertised/notified for recruitment prior to notification for National Pension System, referring to court judgments of various Hon'ble High Courts and Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunals allowing such benefits to applicants. Page 1 of 3 WW84 ‘The matter has been examined in consultation with the Department of Financial Services, Department of Personnel & Training, Department of Expenditure and Department of Legal Affairs in the light of the various representations/references and decisions of the Courts in this regard. [t has now been decided that, in all_cases where the Central Government civil employee has been appointed against «post or vacancy_which was ivertised/notified for recruitmenVappointment, prior to the date of notification for National i stem i.e. 22.12.2003 and is covered under the National Pension S: i jice on or after 01.01.2004, may jiven a one-til tion to _be covers under the CCS(Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), This option may be exercised by the concerned Government servants latest by 31.08.2023. 5. Those Government servants who are eligible to exercise option in accordance with para-4 above, but who do not exercise this option by the stipulated date, shall continue to be covered by the National Pension System. 6. The option once exercised shall be final. 7 The matter regarding coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), ‘based on the option exercised by the Government servant, shall ‘be placed before the Appointing Authority of the posts for which such option is being exercised for consideration, in accordance with these instructions. In case the Government servant fulfills the conditions for coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), in accordance with these instructions, necessary order in this regard shal be issued latest by 31* October, 2023. The NPS account of such Government servants shall, consequently, be closed wef. 3 mber, 8. The Government servants who exercise option to switch over to the pension scheme under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021), shall be required to subscribe to the General Provident Fund (GPF). Regarding accountal of the corpus in the NPS account of the Government servant, Controller General of Accounts (CGA) has furnished the following clarification vide letter No. 1(7)(2/2010/cla/TA. 111/390 dated 14.11.2019 & LD. Note No. ‘TA-3-6/3/2020-TA-IIVes-4308/450 dated 23.12.2022: i. Adjustment of Employees’ contribution in Accounts: Amount may be credited to individual's GPF account and the account may be recasted permitting up-to-date interest (Authority-FR-16 &Rule 11 of GPF Rules). ji, Adjustment of Government contribution under NPS in Accounts: To be ‘accounted for as (-) Dr. to object head 70 - Deduct Recoveries under Major Head 2071 - Pension and other Retirement benefit - Minor Head 911- Deduct Recoveries of over payment (GAR 35 and para 3.10 of List of Major and Minor Heads of Accounts). Page 2 of 3 MrWwe wunt of appreciation of to Govt. account under rents Benefits 800- iii, Adjustment of increased value of subscription on acco investments ~ May be accounted for by crediting the amour MH. 0071- Contribution towards Pension and Other Retirem Other Receipts (Note under the above Head in LMMHA). % (All Ministres/Departments are-reauesed to give wide publicity to these orders without fail. The cases of those Government servants who fulfill the conditions ment joned MOM and who exercise option 10 switch over to the pension scheme under CCS Pension) Rules, 1972 (now 2021) may be settled by the administrative ‘Ministries/Departments in accordance with these orders. Department of Expenditure vide 2023 and in consultation with 3-6/3/2020-TA-IIl/cs-4308/450 10. This issues in consultation with Ministry of Finance, ID Note No. 1(7VEV/2019 dated 05.12.2022 & 07.02. Controller General of Accounts vide their I.D. Note No. TA~ dated 23.12.2022. 11. In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concemed, these orders are issued in consultation with Comptroller and Auditor General of India, as mandated under Article 148(5) of the Constitution of India. 12, Hindi version will follow. i Z 0%. 08,2022 (Sanjiv Narain Mathur) Additional Secretary to Government of India To, ‘All Central Government Ministries / Departments. ent of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, North Block, New Delhi. C&AG, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi. Ministry of Railways, Railway Board, for information, New Delhi. Department of Personnel and Training, North Block, New Delhi. Department of Financial Services, Jeevan Deep Building, Parliament Stree, New Delhi. AD (OL) for Hindi version. NIC for uploading on Department's website. Page 3 of 3ays APPLICATION FOR COVERAGE UNDER RAILWAY SERVICES (PENSION) RULES, 1993 IN PLACE OF NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM Sub: Application for coverage under Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993 in place of National Pension System, of those Railway employees who wererecruited against the posts/vacancies advertised/notified for recruitment, on or before 22-12-2003. Ref: (i) Railway Board Letter No.D-43/12/2018-F(E)III dt.10.03.2023. (ii) DOP& PW's OM No. 57/05/2021-P&PW(B) dt.03.03.2023, Sir In response to the letter referred above, | the undersigned would like to opt for coverage under Railway Services (Pension) Rules,1993 in place of National Pension System The details of the posts/vacancies against which undersigned was recruited/appointed is as follows:- Name _ Designation PRAN No. : Employee No. (as per IPAS) a Date of Appointment Unit in which appointed Post in which appointed Notification No. against which appointed ‘Date of Notification 5 Copy of Notification attached | YES/NO UNDERTAKING That | have understood the terms and condition specified in Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension vide O.M.No.57/05/2021-P&PW(B) dt.03.03.2023, That the information furnished by the undersigned is correct and in case any of the information furnished above are found to be falsefincorrect, my option may be treated as cancelled and | shall be liable for administrative action as deemed appropriate for furnishing incorrect/false information/documents. | also understand that the option exercised by me is final and cannot be withdrawn/changedunder any circumstances. Date: Signature of the Employee