Question : Pension Adalat organised by CPAO

(a) whether the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) is going to organise a ‘Pension Adalat’ through video conferencing;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with its aims and objectives and the details of issues/matters likely to be sorted out in the said Pension Adalat;

(c) the main objectives of launching the National Pension Scheme (NPS) along with the number of persons enrolled thereunder since its inception, State/UT-wise;

(d) whether the Government has achieved the objective of NPS, if so, the details thereof and if not, the corrective measures taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) whether the Government has enhanced the contribution under NPS to make the retirement income scheme more attractive and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a) to (e): A statement is placed on the Table of the House

Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No 350 for answer on 28th March, 2022 raised by SHRI. PRATAPRAO JADHAV and SHRI. SHRIRANG APPA BARNE Regarding ''PENSION ADALAT ORGANISED BY CPAO''

(a) Yes, Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) has organized a Pension Adalat on 16th of March, 2022 through video conferencing.

(b) Details in (a) above
The aims and objectives of this ''Pension Adalat'' were to facilitate prompt and quick redressal of the grievances of the pensioners/family pensioners. The details of issues/matters taken up for sorting out in the said Pension Adalat are related to payment of commutation value, payment of additional pension due, payment of arrear of pension due to revision & issues related to life certificate submission.

(c) The National Pension System (NPS) was introduced by the Government of India to replace the defined benefit pension system by defined contribution pension scheme in order to provide old age income security and to channelize the small savings into productive sectors of the economy through prudential investments. NPS was made mandatory for all new recruits to the Central Government service from 1st January,2004, (except the armed forces in the first stage) and has also been rolled out for all citizens with effect from 1st May,2009, on voluntary basis.

The number of persons enrolled under NPS as on 28.02.2022, since its inception, State/UT-wise is at Annexure A.

(d) & (e) The Government of India has taken a number of steps for streamlining NPS for Central Government employees to protect the interests of the subscribers. These include enhancement of Central Government''s contribution from the earlier 10% to 14% of basic pay+DA for all the Central Government employees covered under National Pension System Tier-1.

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