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Maharashtra Govt Extends Old Pension Scheme to Eligible School Staff

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Maharashtra government has made significant developments in implementing the old pension scheme (OPS) for teachers and non-teaching staff in fully or partially aided schools. According to School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse, the government has seen a surge in demands to extend the OPS to staff appointed before November 1, 2005, but whose schools received 100% grant-in-aid after the cut-off date.

To address the concerns of legislators, including Vikram Kale and Amol Mitkari, Bhuse clarified that government employees appointed before November 1, 2005, are covered under OPS. However, Group A and B officials in the school education department's administrative branches were brought under OPS through a resolution issued on April 28, 2025. Furthermore, the finance department issued a resolution on March 31, 2023, and the school education department followed up with a directive on June 14, 2023, allowing death gratuity, family pension, and retirement gratuity to eligible staff in 100% aided schools under certain conditions.

Additionally, employees covered under NPS/DCPS have been given a one-time option to choose between the revised NPS of the state government and the unified pension scheme (UPS) of the central government, as per a finance department resolution dated September 20, 2024.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Maharashtra government has extended the old pension scheme to teachers and non-teaching staff in fully or partially aided schools appointed before November 1, 2005.
  • Group A and B officials in the school education department's administrative branches were brought under OPS through a resolution issued on April 28, 2025.
  • The finance department issued a resolution on March 31, 2023, allowing death gratuity, family pension, and retirement gratuity to eligible teaching and non-teaching staff under certain conditions.
  • The school education department issued a directive on June 14, 2023, to implement the OPS benefits for eligible staff.
  • Employees covered under NPS/DCPS have been given a one-time option to choose between the revised NPS and the unified pension scheme (UPS) of the central government.
  • The OPS extension aims to benefit approximately 15,000 teachers and non-teaching staff in 100% aided schools.

Statistics:

  • 15,000: The estimated number of teachers and non-teaching staff eligible for OPS benefits in 100% aided schools.
  • 100%: The grant-in-aid received by schools after the cut-off date, which made teachers and staff appointed before November 1, 2005, eligible for OPS benefits.

Sources:

  • Times of India, March 31, 2023: "Maharashtra govt issues resolution to allow death gratuity, family pension, retirement gratuity to eligible staff"
  • Times of India, April 28, 2025: "Maharashtra govt brings Group A, B officials under OPS"
  • Times of India, June 14, 2023: "School education department issues directive to implement OPS benefits for eligible staff"
  • Times of India, September 20, 2024: "Finance department resolution gives employees one-time option to choose between NPS, UPS"
  • Interview with School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse, as reported in Times of India

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