Himachal to Stands Firm on Old Pension Scheme Despite Financial Strain : Sukhu
Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has once again reassured government employees that the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) will remain in place, even as the state faces financial hurdles after its restoration. Addressing the Assembly on Thursday, Sukhu emphasized that more than 5,300 retirees over the past three years are already receiving OPS benefits, and every future retiree will continue to be covered under the scheme.
The decision to bring back OPS was one of the first taken by the Congress government, impacting nearly 1.36 lakh employees. But the move came at a cost — the Centre withdrew an additional ₹1,600 crore loan that the state had been eligible for. Sukhu admitted that rising retirements would add financial pressure, yet he assured that reforms to boost revenue are underway.
Countering criticism that the scheme was politically motivated, Sukhu said, “If this were for political gains, we would have implemented OPS six months before the elections. We restored it purely on humanitarian grounds to provide social security to government employees.”
He also explained that funds contributed by employees who shifted from the National Pension System (NPS) to OPS remain in their pension accounts, currently invested in the stock market. The state has repeatedly asked the Union Finance Ministry to release nearly ₹10,000 crore of this money, which Sukhu said would help clear pending arrears once returned.
Data shared in the Assembly highlighted the scale of the shift: 7,053 employees came under OPS in 2022–23, 7,217 in 2023–24, and 6,698 in 2024–25.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Jairam Thakur accused the government of withholding details, calling it “an insult to the House.” He argued that OPS was not just a welfare measure but also the Congress party’s first election guarantee.
For thousands of employees, however, the assurance of OPS means more than politics — it represents stability, dignity, and security in their retirement years.
