Manipur Cabinet approves the Unified Pension Scheme and gratuity benefits for NPS employees from April 2026 and allots four acres of land for a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Kakching.
Imphal, Nov. 5: The Manipur Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, on Thursday approved the implementation of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for state government employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS), extended gratuity benefits to NPS employees and cleared the allotment of state land for establishing a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Kakching district.
The three decisions are expected to benefit government employees appointed on or after January 1, 2005, while the proposed Kendriya Vidyalaya at Wabagai will expand access to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) education in Kakching district.
The Cabinet approved the Manipur Civil Services (Implementation of the Unified Pension Scheme under the National Pension System) Rules, 2026, and the Manipur Civil Services (Payment of Gratuity under the National Pension System) Rules, 2026. Both sets of rules will take effect retrospectively from April 1, 2026.
Unified Pension Scheme approved for state employees
The Cabinet approved the introduction of the Unified Pension Scheme as an option for state government employees covered under the National Pension System.
Under the new rules, employees who joined government service on or after January 1, 2005, can opt for an assured pension instead of depending entirely on market-linked returns under the existing NPS arrangement.
Employees completing 25 years of qualifying service will be eligible for the full assured monthly pension, along with a lump-sum payment. Those completing at least 20 years of service will receive proportionate pension benefits.
The scheme also provides for family pension and dearness relief, offering additional financial security to employees and their families after retirement.
Under the contribution structure, employees will contribute 10 per cent of their Basic Pay plus Dearness Allowance (DA), while the state government will contribute 18.5 per cent.
Existing eligible employees will have until December 31, 2026, to exercise their option to join the Unified Pension Scheme. Newly recruited employees will be required to make their choice within 30 days of joining service.
The rules will be effective from April 1, 2026, allowing eligible employees to opt for the new pension arrangement under the prescribed conditions.
Gratuity benefits extended to NPS employees
In another significant decision concerning employee welfare, the Cabinet approved the Manipur Civil Services (Payment of Gratuity under the National Pension System) Rules, 2026.
The new rules address the absence of a statutory provision for payment of gratuity to state government employees appointed on or after January 1, 2005, who were brought under the National Pension System.
Modelled on the Central Government's 2021 Rules, the new framework provides for both retirement gratuity and death gratuity to employees covered under the NPS.
The benefits will also extend to employees who choose the Unified Pension Scheme.
Under the arrangement, employees retiring from government service will be entitled to retirement gratuity, while the families of employees who die during service will receive death gratuity.
The Cabinet's approval gives these benefits the status of a legal entitlement under the newly approved rules, replacing the earlier absence of a specific statutory gratuity provision for this category of employees.
The decision is expected to provide greater financial security to retiring employees and families who lose their earning members while in government service.
Both the gratuity rules and the Unified Pension Scheme rules will take effect from April 1, 2026.
Four acres of land allotted for Kendriya Vidyalaya in Kakching
The Cabinet also approved the allotment of approximately four acres (1.6187 hectares) of state government land at Wabagai, Revenue Village No. 66, in Kakching district, to the Directorate of Education (Schools) for establishing a Kendriya Vidyalaya.
Kakching district has been without a Kendriya Vidyalaya since it was created as a separate district in 2016. The availability of CBSE-affiliated schools in the district has also remained limited.
The proposed school is expected to provide students with access to CBSE-based education within the district, reducing the need for families to send their children to other locations for schooling.
The government stated that the institution would help children access quality and affordable education closer to their homes while reducing the financial and logistical difficulties faced by families seeking CBSE education outside Kakching.
The allotment of land marks an administrative step towards establishing the proposed central school in the district.
