In the Northeast region, Sikkim has become the first state to reinstate the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for its government employees hired on or after April 1, 2006. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang announced the historic decision during the State Level Temporary Employees’ Convention.

• The OPS, which was replaced by the New Pension Scheme (NPS) in 2004, guarantees a fixed pension based on the last drawn salary after retirement.
• The NPS, on the other hand, is a market-based system where individual contributions and returns determine the final pension amount.
• The reinstatement of the OPS will apply to all government employees appointed on or after April 1, 2006. Existing employees covered under the NPS will have the option to switch to the OPS.
• Additionally, those appointed before March 31, 1990 will continue to benefit from the existing OPS provisions.