Old Pension Scheme Rules 1972 PDF is available to download at cag.gov.in. Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 came into force on 1st June 1972 and are the rules behind the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for central government employees who joined service before 1st January 2004.
These rules still matter today because five states, including Punjab, have decided to bring back the old pension scheme for their own employees. The central government, however, has not restored OPS for central employees and has said the old rules were replaced by CCS Pension Rules, 2021.
What is Old Pension Scheme
Old Pension Scheme is the common name for Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972. These rules apply to government servants appointed on or before 31st December 2003, including civilian government servants in the Defence Services, appointed substantively to civil services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union which are borne on pensionable establishments. The rules do not apply to,
- railway servants;
- persons in casual and daily rated employment;
- persons paid from contingencies;
- persons entitled to the benefit of a Contributory Provident Fund;
- members of the All India Services;
- persons locally recruited for service in diplomatic, consular or other Indian establishments in foreign countries;
- persons employed on contract except when the contract provides otherwise; and
- persons whose terms and conditions of service are regulated by or under the provisions of the Constitution or any other law for the time being in force.
CCS Pension Rules 1972 vs CCS Pension Rules 2021
CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 were replaced by CCS Pension Rules, 2021, which were notified through GSR 868(E) dated 20th December 2021 by the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare. The 2021 rules are the revamped version of the 1972 rules and now govern the old pension scheme for central government employees.
Even so, the 1972 rules remain relevant because some state governments have decided to restore the old pension scheme for their own employees. As per the Finance Ministry, the state governments of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have informed the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) about their decision to restart OPS for their state government employees.
Latest Update on Old Pension Scheme in 2026
In June 2026, the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare clarified that eligible compassionate ground appointees who had applied for appointment on or before the prescribed cut-off date could be considered under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021. This opened the OPS option for employees who applied before 1st January 2004 but joined service after that date and were covered under the National Pension System (NPS).
On 7th July 2026, CSIR directed its laboratories and institutes to implement this decision for similarly placed compassionate ground appointees. Other central autonomous bodies may follow this example, but there is no blanket order covering all such bodies yet.
For central government employees as a whole, the government has ruled out a return to the old pension scheme. The Finance Ministry has said OPS was moved away from due to its unsustainable fiscal liability on the government exchequer, and there is no proposal under consideration to bring it back for central employees.
Punjab Old Pension Scheme Update
Punjab is among the states that have decided to restore the old pension scheme. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab government has announced the move, but employees are still pressing for its full rollout. In August 2026, thousands of teachers and government employees held a rally at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's native village Satoj in Sangrur demanding the formal implementation of the old pension scheme instead of the National Pension System.
A meeting between the representatives of the protesting employees and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was scheduled for 27th August 2026 to take the matter forward.
How to Download CCS Pension Rules 1972 PDF
The full text of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 is available on the official website of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. The PDF can be downloaded directly from the CAG website.
STEP 1 - Visit the official CAG website at cag.gov.in and go to the publications or media section.
STEP 2 - Look for the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 PDF under the pension rules or government rules section.
STEP 3 - Click on the PDF link to open or download the full rules document on your device.
FAQ's
Is the Old Pension Scheme still running for central government employees?
No. The old pension scheme was replaced by the National Pension System for employees joining on or after 1st January 2004, and the CCS Pension Rules, 2021 now govern the old pension scheme for pre-2004 central employees. The central government has not restored OPS for new central employees.
Which states have restored the old pension scheme?
Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have informed the PFRDA about their decision to restart the old pension scheme for their state government employees.
Can I download the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 PDF?
Yes, the full text of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 is available as a PDF on the official CAG website at cag.gov.in.
Who can opt for OPS under the 2026 update?
Eligible compassionate ground appointees who applied for appointment before 1st January 2004 but joined service on or after that date, and were covered under NPS, can now opt for OPS under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 as per the June 2026 clarification.
