Small Savings Schemes interest rates from October 2025 to December 2025
F.No.1/4/2019-NS Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Economic Affairs (Budget Division)
North Block, New Delhi Dated: 30.09.2025
OFFICะ ะะะORANDUM
Subject: Revision of interest rates for Small Savings Schemes – reg.
The rates of interest on various Small Savings Schemes for the third quarter of FY 2025-26 starting from 1st October, 2025 and ending on 31st December, 2025 shall remain unchanged from those notified for the second quarter (1st July, 2025 to 30th September, 2025) of FY 2025-26.
2. This has the approval of the competent authority.
Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (2016=100) โ August, 2025
1. Labour Bureau, an attached office of the M/o Labour & Employment, has been compiling Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers every month on the basis of retail prices collected from 317 markets spread over 88 industrially important centres in the country. The index for the month of August, 2025 is being released in this press release.
2. The All-India CPI-IW for August, 2025 increased by 0.6 point and stood at 147.1 (one hundred forty-Seven point One).
Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (ad-hoc bonus) to Central Government Employees for 2024-25: FinMin O.M
F. No. 7/24/2007/E III (A) Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Expenditure
North Block, New Delhi, Dated 29.09.2025
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Grant of Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (ad-hoc bonus) to Central Government Employees for the year 2024-25.
The undersigned is directed to convey the sanction of the President to grant of Non-Productivity Linked Bonus (Ad-hoc Bonus) equivalent to 30 days emoluments for the accounting year 2024-25 to all Central Government employees in Group โCโ and all non-gazetted Central Government employees in Group โBโ, who are not covered by any Productivity Linked Bonus Scheme. The calculation ceiling for payment of ad-hoc Bonus under these orders shall be monthly emoluments of Rs.7000/-. The payment of ad-hoc Bonus under these orders will also be admissible to the eligible employees of Central Para Military Forces and Armed Forces. The orders will deemed to be extended to the employees of Union Territory Administration which follow the Central Government pattern of emoluments and are not covered by any other bonus or ex-gratia scheme.
2. The benefit will be admissible subject to the following terms and conditions:-
(i) Only those employees who were in service as on 31.3.2025 and have rendered at least six months of continuous service during the year 2024-25 will be eligible for payment under these orders. Pro-rata payment will be admissible to the eligible employees for period of continuous service during the year from six months to a full year, the eligibility period being taken in terms of number of months of service (rounded off to the nearest number of months);
(ii) The quantum of Non-PLB (ad-hoc bonus) will be worked out on the basis of average emoluments/calculation ceiling whichever is lower. To calculate Non-PLB (Ad-hoc bonus) for one day, the average emoluments in a year will be divided by 30.4 (average number of days in a month). This will, thereafter, be multiplied by the number of days of bonus granted. To illustrate, taking the calculation ceiling of monthly emoluments of Rs.7000/- (where actual average emoluments exceed Rs.7000/-), Non-PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) for thirty days would work out to Rs.7000ร30/30.4=Rs.6907.89/- (rounded off to Rs.6908/-).
(iii) The casual labour who have worked in offices following a 6 days week for at least 240 days for each year for 3 years or more (206 days in each year for 3 years or more in the case of offices observing 5 day week), will be eligible for this Non-PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) Payment. The amount of Non-PLB (ad-hoc bonus) payable will be (Rs.1200ร30/30.4 i.e. Rs.1184.21/- (rounded off to Rs.1184/-). In cases where the actual emoluments fall below Rs.1200/- p.m., the amount will be calculated on the basis of actual monthly emoluments.
(iv) All payments under these orders will be rounded off to the nearest rupee.
(v) Various points regarding regulation of Ad-hoc / Non-PLB Bonus are given in the Annexure.
3. The expenditure on this account will be debitable to the respective object head in terms of Department of Expenditureโs Notification dated 16th December 2022.
4. The expenditure to be incurred on account of Non-PLB (Ad-hoc Bonus) is to be met from within the sanctioned budget provision of concerned Ministries/Departments for the current financial year 2025-26.
5. In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders are issued in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India as mandated under Article 148(5) of the Constitution of India.
(Umesh Kumar Agarwal) Deputy Secretary to the Government of India.
To,
All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India as per standard list etc.
ANNEXURE-1
ANNEXURE to O.M. No. 7/24/2007-E-III(A) dated 29/09/2025
Point
Clarification
1. Whether the employees in the following categories are eligible for the benefit of ad-hoc bonus for an accounting year
Subject to completion of minimum six months continuous service and being in service as on 31st March, 2025.
(a) Employees appointed on purely temporary ad-hoc basis.
(a) Yes, if there is no break in service.
(b) Employees who resigned, retired from service or expired before 31st March, 2025.
(b) As a special case only those persons who superannuated or retired on invalidation on medical grounds or died before 31st March, 2025 but after completing at least six months regular service during the year will be eligible for the ad-hoc bonus on pro rata basis in terms of nearest number of months of service.
(c) Employees on deputation/ foreign service terms to state governments, U.T. Governments, Public Sector Undertakings, etc., on 31st March, 2025.
(c) Such employees are not eligible for the ad-hoc bonus to be paid by the lending departments. In such cases the liability to pay ad-hoc bonus lies with the borrowing organization depending upon the ad-hoc bonus/PLB/ex-gratia/incentive payment scheme, if any, in force in the borrowing organization.
(d) Employees who reverted during accounting year from deputation on foreign service with the organizations indicated in โCโ above.
(d) The total amount of bonus/ex-gratia received for the accounting year from foreign employer and the ad-hoc bonus, if any, due from a central government office for the period after reversion will be restricted to the amount due under ad-hoc bonus as per these orders.
(e) Employees from state Government/U.T. Admin./Public Sector Undertakings on reverse deputation with the Central Government.
(e) Yes, they are eligible for ad-hoc bonus to be paid by the borrowing departments in terms of these orders provided no additional incentive as part of terms of deputation, other than Deputation Allowance, is paid and the lending authorities have no objection.
(f) Superannuated employees who were re-employed.
(f) Re-employment being fresh employment, eligibility period is to be worked out separately for re-employment period; the total amount admissible, if any, for prior to superannuation and that for re-employment period being restricted to the maximum admissible under ad-hoc bonus under these orders.
(g) Employees on half-Pay leave/E.O.L./Leave not due/study leave at any time during the accounting year.
(g) Except in the case of leave without pay the period of leave of other kinds will be included for the purpose of working out eligibility period. The period of E.O.L./dies non will be excluded from eligibility period but will not count as break in service for the purpose of ad-hoc bonus.
(h) Employees under suspension at any time during the accounting year.
(h) Subsistence allowance given to an employee under suspension for a period in the accounting year cannot be treated as emoluments. Such an employee becomes eligible for the benefit of ad-hoc bonus if and when reinstated with benefit of emoluments for the period of suspension, and in other cases such period will be excluded for the purpose of eligibility as in the case of employees on leave without pay.
(i) Employees transferred from one Ministry/Department/Office covered by ad-hoc bonus orders to another within the Government of India or a Union Territory Government covered by ad-hoc bonus orders and vice versa.
(i) Employees who are transferred from any of the Ministry/Department/Office covered by ad-hoc bonus orders to another such office without break in service will be eligible on the basis of combined period of service in the different organizations. Those who are nominated on the basis of a limited departmental or open competitive exam from one organization to a different organization will also be eligible for the ad-hoc bonus. The payment will be made only by the organization where he was employed as on 31st March, 2025 and no adjustments with the previous employer will be necessary.
(j) Employees who are transferred from a Government Department/ Organization covered by ad-hoc bonus orders to a Government Department/ Organization covered by productivity โ Linked Bonus scheme or vice versa.
(j) They may be paid what would have been paid on the basis of emoluments in ad-hoc bonus covered department for the entire year less the amount due as productivity-linked bonus. The amount so calculated may be paid by Department where he was working on 31st March, 2025 and/or at the time of payment.
(k) Part-time employees engaged on nominal fixed payment
(k) Not eligible.
2. Whether ad-hoc bonus is payable to casual labour for an accounting year in the following cases:-
ย
(a) Those who have put in specified number of days of work in different offices during each of the three years ending with the said accounting year.
(a) The eligibility is to be worked out for three years from the said accounting year backwards. The period of 240 days of work in each of these years may be arrived at by combining the number of days worked in more than one offices of the government of India, for which bonus, ex-gratia or incentive payment has not been earned and received.
(b) Casual labour who were not in work on 31st March, 2025.
(b) The condition of being in employment on 31st March, 2025 as laid down in these orders is applicable to regular Government Employees and not to casual labour.
(c) Those who have put in at least specified number of days of work in each of two years preceding the accounting year but are short of this limit due to regularization in employment in the said accounting year.
(c) If a casual labour, who has been regularized in the accounting year does not fulfill the minimum continuous service of six months as on 31st March, 2025 and therefore, cannot be granted benefit as a regular employee, he may be allowed the benefit as for a casual labour provided the period of regular service in the said year if added to the period of work as casual labour works out to at least specified number of days in that accounting year.
Central Government employees on Deputation/Foreign service to submit Physical โForm A2โ to opt for UPS
เคชเฅเคเคถเคจ เคจเคฟเคงเคฟ เคตเคฟเคจเคฟเคฏเคพเคฎเค เคเคฐ เคตเคฟเคเคพเคธ เคชเฅเคฐเคพเคงเคฟเคเคฐเคฃ PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Circular
Circular No: PFRDA/2025/13/SUP-CG-SG/05
September 24, 2025
To,
All the stakeholders of NPS and UPS
Subject: Central Government employees on Deputation/Foreign service to submit Physical โForm A2โ to opt for UPS.
The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) has been notified by the Central Government vide notification F. No. FX-1/3/2024-PR, dated 24.01.2025 issued by Dept. of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance. Further, the PFRDA (Operationalization of the Unified Pension Scheme under NPS) Regulations, 2025 were notified on 19.03.2025 and the Central Civil Services (Implementation of Unified Pension Scheme under National Pension System) Rules, 2025 have been notified by DoPPW on 02.09.2025.
2. It has come to notice that several employees currently on deputation/foreign service to organisations not covered under the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) are facing difficulty in exercising their option for UPS.
3. In view of the impending deadline for exercising the option under the Unified Pension Scheme, i.e., 30th September, 2025 , it is hereby brought to the attention of all concerned that:
All employees who are currently on deputation/foreign service and intend to opt for the Unified Pension Scheme may submit the duly filled physical copy of Form A2 to their respective nodal office of their parent organisation on or before the specified due date.
The nodal office concerned shall then process the migration to UPS through the CRA system in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
4. A copy of the Form A2 is annexed to this circular for reference.
Payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees for 2024-25
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (เคญเคพเคฐเคค เคธเคฐเคเคพเคฐ) MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (เคฐเฅเคฒ เคฎเคเคคเฅเคฐเคพเคฒเคฏ) RAILWAY BOARD (เคฐเฅเคฒเคตเฅ เคฌเฅเคฐเฅเคก)
RBE No. 101/2025 New Delhi, dt. 24.09.2025
No. E(P&A)II/2025/PLB-1
The General Managers/CAOS, All Indian Railways & Production Units etc.
Sub: Payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees for the financial year 2024-25
The President is pleased to sanction Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 (Seventy Eight) days wagesโ without any ceiling on wages for eligibility for the financial year 2024-25 to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding all RPF/RPSF personnel). Where, wagesโ exceed โน7000/- per month, Productivity Linked Bonus will be calculated as if the โwagesโ are โน7000/- p.m. Other conditions of eligibility, method of calculation of wages, etc., as prescribed in this Ministryโs instructions and clarifications issued from time to time, shall remain unchanged.
2. It has also been decided that in the case of eligible employees mentioned in Para 1 above who were not placed under suspension, or had not quit service/retired/expired during the financial year 2024-25 or were on leave where leave salary admissible is not less than that admissible on leave on average pay, may be paid an amount of โน17,951/- towards Productivity Linked Bonus for the financial year 2024-25. In the case of employees other than those mentioned above, the amount of Productivity Linked Bonus may be calculated in accordance with the extant instructions on the subject.
3. Further, in relaxation to the provisions in Rules 905(2), 908 and 909 of State Railway Provident Fund Rules, as contained in Chapter 9 of R-I/1985 edition (2003 Reprint edition), such of the subscribers to the SRPF as are entitled to Productivity Linked Bonus may, if they so desire, deposit the whole or part of the amount admissible under the Scheme in their respective State Railway Provident Fund Accounts.
4. Disbursement of Productivity Linked Bonus for the financial year 2024-25 to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees mentioned in Para 1 above should be made in the same mode as payment of salary, on priority basis.
5. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
Medical Facilities for Transgender Dependents of Central Government Employees under CGHS/CS(MA) Rules, 1944
F. No. 2-1/2025-CGHS(HQ)/C&P/EHS(8328809) Government of India Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (EHS Section)
Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi-110011 Dated: 16-09-2025
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Guidelines for allowing medical facilities under CGHS/CS(MA) Rules, 1944, to dependent transgender children/siblings irrespective of age โ Reg.
In compliance with the provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, it has been decided to allow medical facilities under CGHS/CS(MA) Rules, 1944, to dependent transgender children/siblings of Central Government employees (serving/pensioner) irrespective of age, subject to the following conditions:
Individual must be wholly dependent as per the financial limit specified in MoHFW OM No. per OM No. S.11012/2/2016-CGHS(P) dated 08.11.2016 (copy enclosed), on the central government employee.
Individual must have a certificate issued by District Magistrate, under the provisions of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
2. This issues with the approval of competent authority.
Encl: As above
Digitally signed by HEMLATA SINGH Date: 16-09-2025 (Hemlata Singh) Under Secretary to Government of India Tele: 011-23061778
SPARSH Streamlines defence pension administration by reducing time for grievance redressal and resolving legacy discrepancies
System for Pension Administration โ Raksha (SPARSH) has resolved legacy discrepanciesโupto the extent of 5.60 lakh out of 6.43 lakh cases (87%)โensuring protection of entitlements of defence pensioners. It has also strengthened grievance redressal, bringing down average disposal time from 56 days in April 2025 to just 20 days now. As on date, 31.54 lakh defence pensioners across India and Nepal are now onboarded onย SPARSH
Additionally, more than 100 outreach events were conducted in last one year. Till now, 211 SPARSH Outreach Programmes and 193 Raksha Pension Samadhan Ayojans (RPSAs) have been organized. During this year, DAD has actively participated in 13th and 14th All India Pension Adalats held under Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, where 260 and 252 grievances were resolved on the spot, respectively
Suo-moto scrutiny of pension cases were carried out by SPARSH and โน3.02 crore has been disbursed to 48 pensioners in May 2025. In FY 2024โ25, a Defence Pension Budget of โน1,57,681 crore was disbursed on a real-time basis through SPARSH. When One Rank One Pension (OROP)-III was implemented in July 2024, โน1,224.76 crore was transferred to 20.17 lakh beneficiaries within just 15 days.
SPARSH is worldโs largest pension system for defence personnel. It stands as a transparent, inclusive and efficient model of governanceโtransforming pension administration from fragmentation to integration and from delay to dignity. At present, 202 Defence Accounts Department (DAD) offices, 4.63 lakh Common Service Centers, 5200+ bank branches functioning as SPARSH Service Centers .
Procedure for migration of NPS pensioners on death/disability of Government Servants: CGA
Ministry of Finance Controller General of Accounts Department of Expenditure Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan `E’ Block, GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi โ 110023.
Date : 17.09.2025
Subject: Procedure for migration of NPS pensioners on death/disability of Government Servants.
Reference is invited to 0/o CGA’s OM No. 1(7)/DCPS(NPS)/2009/TA/2021 dated 02.07.2009 regarding additional relief on death/disability of Government servants covered by the Defined Contribution Pension System (NPS) wherein, it was provided to issue Provisional Pension Payment Order (PPPO) in respect of those employees. The said OM was issued consequent upon issuance of DOP&PW’s OM dated 05.05.2009 regarding government’s decision to extend the benefits under CCS (EOP) Rules, 1939 in the event of death or boarding out on account of disablement or retirement on invalidation in respect of employees covered under NPS. As per para 5 & 6 of the DOP&PW’s OM dt 05.05.7009, the above payment will be on provisional basis and the same will be adjusted against the payments to made in accordance with the Rules framed.
2. Consequent upon notification of CCS (Implementation of NPS) Rules, 2021, providing therein under Rule 10, all such provisional payments need to be regularised alongwith cancellation of PPPO and issuance of regular Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) by respective PAOs. A Procedure for preparation of the same is being provided as under:
i. Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) will call back all Provisional Pension Payment Orders (PPPOs) booklet from Pension Account Holding Branch (PAHB) through respective Central Pension Processing Centres (CPPCs) and send it to concerned PAOs along with the photocopies of the additional relevant documents (lying with CPAO) for preparing new PPOs.
ii. CPAO shall ensure that all Sections/Parts including records of disbursement of these PPPOs are updated fully and entry for Last Pension Payment is be made in PPPO before sending the same to PAOs.
iii. CPAO will provide a utility to PAOs for generation of PPO number against such PPPOs.
iv. On receipt of copies of PPPOs from CPAO, PAO shall seek Service Book and relevant documents of concerned Govt. employees, from Head of Office (Ho0).
v. Head of Office (HoO) will send Service Book alongwith a forwarding letter to PAO mentioning therewith that provisional pension/family pension of (name of the Govt. employee) will be regularized/authorized as per CCS (Implementation of NPS) Rules 2021. PAO will initiate action to issue PPO accordingly.
vi. PAO will generate a new PPO number and prepare PPO against each PPPO.
vii. The PPO so prepared by PAO will also bear old PPPO number and PRAN number. (Annexure-A)
viii. While finalising PPO, PAO will verify/cross check the details from the available records and authority issued for PPPO by him/her to CPAO.
ix. On completion of PPO, PAO will send the same to CPAO alongwith Special Seal Authority (SSA) for onward transmission to CPPC as is done while issuing PPO in processing pension/family pension cases as per CCS(Pension) Rules. PAO will keep close watch and ensure that PPOs have been issued by them against every PPPO.
x. On receipt of PPO and SSA from PAO, CPAO will check all entries of PPOs with the available documents/PPPOs with them and ensure the correctness of the same.
xi. CPAO will process these PPOs further & send the same to CPPC as is done in case of processing other pension/family pension cases. However, CPAO will, inter alia, indicate the date of commencement of pension/family pension in SSA by Bank. CPAO will stop pension payment immediately through PPPO w.e.f. date mentioned in SSA.
xii. After receipt of the new PPO from the concerned PAO, CPAO will send new PPO, SSA, Last Pay Certificate (LPC), and other supporting documents in original (old SSAs lying with CPAO as well as the new received afresh now from PAO) to the concerned CPPC for further processing and disbursement. CPAO will also retain scanned copies of the complete set of documents of old PPO as well as new PPO for its official records.
xiii. PPPOs from pensioners should be obtained by PAHB. PAHB will forward the same to CPPC and CPPC to CPAO and CPAO to PAO. CPAO’s portion will be returned to PAO concerned after final submission of the case to CPPC to avoid stoppage of pension. CPAO shall ensure the continuity of pension payment. At the same time, necessary precaution will be taken to avoid any instance of double payment.
xiv. The CPPC will follow guidelines as in case of other pension/family pension cases and as enunciated in the Scheme Booklet and as instructed by CPAO.
xv. CPAO will issue necessary directions/instructions to CPPC/PAHB to get this work done smoothly, at the earliest, without any disruption of payment of pension/family pension to concerned beneficiaries.
This issues with the approval of competent authority.
(Samya Bhushan) Assistant Controller General of Accounts
CC (Pension), CPAO, Trikoot-Il, Bhikaji Kama Place, New Delhi
CGA’s UO No TA-3-07001/2/2021-TA-CGA /cs-5365/3442
2. As the due date for exercising the option for UPS is approaching, i.e., 30th September, 2025, it is hereby brought to the notice of all subscribers that, if due to any reason including unavailability of online system or any technical glitch in the CRA system due to which the subscriber is unable to submit the UPS request online through CRA system by 30th September 2025, the subscriber can submit the duly filled physical form to the concerned nodal office on or before the due date for further processing by the nodal office. The physical forms of UPS are available at https:// www.npscra.nsdl.co.in/ups.php
3. This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 14 of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013 and shall be effective immediately.
PFRDA extends One-time option for Central Government employees who joined services on or after 01.04.2025 and up to 31.08.2025 to opt for Unified Pension Scheme
PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Circular
Circular No: PFRDA/2025/08/SUP-CG-SG/02
September 14, 2025
To, All the stakeholders of NPS and UPS
Subject: One-time option for Central Government employees who joined services on or after 01.04.2025 and up to 31.08.2025 to opt for Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) – reg.
2. In light of the recent clarifications and developments in the scheme, it has been decided by the Central Government to allow a one-time option to Central Government employees who joined services on or after 01.04.2025 and up to 31.08.2025, and who have opted for NPS, to migrate to Unified Pension Scheme.
3. This option may be exercised up to 30th September, 2025, in alignment with the extended cut-off date already notified for other categories of eligible persons.
4. This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 14 of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013 and shall be effective immediately.
