JAMMU, Sep 30: The National Old Pension Restoration United Front (NOPRUF), Jammu & Kashmir, convened a crucial meeting on Wednesday to discuss the recently issued Government Order No. 305-F of 2026, dated September 28, 2026. The meeting was held under the leadership of NOPRUF J&K President Rajesh Kumar Sharma and witnessed participation from government employees covered under the order.
Addressing the gathering, Sharma explained the procedural requirements for eligible employees seeking to exercise the one-time option to switch over to the Defined Pension Scheme, commonly referred to as the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). He provided detailed guidance on the process and highlighted important provisions concerning the submission deadline, route of processing, pension corpus and account closure, as well as the finality of the option once exercised.
The meeting was attended by employees whose posts had been advertised before the notification of the New Pension Scheme under SRO-400 of 2009 but who joined government service on or after January 1, 2010. Sharma urged eligible employees to carefully complete the prescribed formalities within the stipulated timeline.
While welcoming the relief provided through the government order, Sharma said that NOPRUF considers it only a partial measure benefiting a limited section of employees. He reiterated the organisation’s demand for restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for all government employees covered under the New Pension Scheme.
“The fight is not over. Only a small lot of employees have benefited from this specific order. The clear stand of NOPRUF J&K is OPS for All, and we remain committed to that goal,” Sharma said.
He further stated that the organisation would continue its peaceful agitation and grassroots campaign across Jammu and Kashmir until its demand for wider restoration of OPS was addressed.
Sharma also appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to consider restoration of the Old Pension Scheme across Jammu and Kashmir, referring to the commitment made in the National Conference’s election manifesto. He described government employees as an important part of the administrative machinery and stressed the need to ensure post-retirement financial security and dignity for employees.
“Government employees are the backbone of the administration and the execution machinery of the UT. We appeal to the Hon’ble Chief Minister not to weaken this backbone and to restore the Old Pension Scheme across Jammu and Kashmir as per the commitment made in the election manifesto,” Sharma said.
NOPRUF maintained that while Government Order No. 305-F of 2026 provides relief to eligible employees falling within its scope, the organisation will continue to pursue its broader demand for restoration of OPS for all employees covered under the NPS.