Politics over pension

States cannot afford a return to the old system

Last week, Punjab joined Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand in jettisoning the National Pension System (NPS) and restoring the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh are reportedly considering similar moves. The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, fighting Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, have promised to revert to the OPS if voted to power. As with the demand for One Rank One Pension (OROP) by retired service personnel, the return to the OPS is being driven by serial protests among government employees who prefer the visibility of a defined- or assured-benefit scheme such as the OPS