UPS Switch: Which Form Should New Joiners Complete Before Deadline?

The deadline to opt for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) is fast approaching. Eligible employees need to exercise their option by September 30, 2025. Considering that only 1 per cent of the eligible employees opted for the scheme by mid-July 2025, the Centre and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) have started actively issuing reminders on social media regarding this.

PFRDA also issued a circular on September 19, 2025, asking new employees to complete the formalities by the last date, if not done already, and submit the physical form offline if the online system doesn’t work.

It said: “All employees who joined the central government service on or after 01.04.2025 and intend to opt for the Unified Pension Scheme may physically submit the duly filled Form A1 to their respective nodal offices/or the Head of the training Institute/or the Head of their current Institute, as applicable, on or before the specified due date. Thereafter, the Head of Institutes shall be required to forward the same to the cadre controlling authority or the DDO, where the employees shall be posted.”

What Are The Different Forms Related To UPS?

There are two forms for enrolling in the scheme.

• Form A1: This is for those central government employees who joined service on or after April 1, 2025

• Form A2: This is for the existing NPS subscribers who want to opt for UPS

In addition to this, there are other forms (Form B1-B6) for claiming the money, depending on the subscriber’s status and the benefits availed of.

Employees need to provide one passport-size photograph, their personal details (date of birth, Permanent Account Number (PAN), Nationality, etc.), proof of identity, address, contact details, and bank details. Along with it, they need to select the investment choice (auto or active), and the pension fund out of the 11 pension fund managers.

For new employees, the timelines to opt for the pension scheme are within 30 days from the date of joining, or the extended timelines allowed by the Centre. So, those who have joined on or before August 31, 2025, will complete 30 days on September 30, and are required to fill the form by then to affirm their choice of pension scheme. 

UPS offers an assured pension after 10 years of working on a pro-rata basis for working years between 10 and 25, and for a period of more than 25 years of working, the pension offered is 50 per cent of the last 12 months’ average of basic pay. 

In case an employee doesn’t exercise the choice, the default pension will be the National Pension System (NPS).