Calculate your pension under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) as per 7th Pay Commission. Estimate your basic pension, dearness relief (DA), and total monthly pension for both Central and State Government employees.
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The Old Pension Scheme (OPS) is a defined benefit pension system that was the standard for government employees in India before January 1, 2004. Under this scheme, retired employees receive a guaranteed monthly pension without having to contribute anything during their service period. The entire pension burden is borne by the government.
The OPS pension is calculated as a percentage of the last drawn basic pay, with a maximum of 50% for employees who complete 33 years of qualifying service. The pension also includes Dearness Relief (DR), which is revised periodically to account for inflation, ensuring that pensioners maintain their purchasing power over time.
Key features of OPS include family pension for dependents, no employee contribution requirement, guaranteed lifelong pension, medical benefits, and periodic DA revisions. The scheme was replaced by the National Pension System (NPS) in 2004, but several states have recently announced a return to OPS for their employees due to its superior benefits.
OPS pension eligibility depends on your date of joining government service and the state you work in:
If your qualifying service is less than 10 years, you are not eligible for pension under OPS. However, you may be eligible for gratuity and other retirement benefits. For service between 10-33 years, the pension is calculated proportionally based on the formula: (Years of Service ÷ 33) × 50%.
Understanding the difference between Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and National Pension System (NPS) is crucial for government employees:
| Feature | OPS (Old Pension Scheme) | NPS (National Pension System) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Defined Benefit | Defined Contribution |
| Employee Contribution | None (0%) | 10% of Basic + DA |
| Government Contribution | 100% | 14% of Basic + DA |
| Pension Amount | 50% of last drawn basic pay (for 33 years) | Depends on market returns |
| Dearness Relief (DA) | Yes, same as serving employees | No DA on pension |
| Guarantee | Guaranteed pension | No guarantee |
| Family Pension | Yes (30-50% of last pay) | Only remaining corpus |
| Minimum Pension | ₹9,000/month | No minimum guarantee |
| Lump Sum at Retirement | 40% commutation available | 60% as lump sum, 40% for annuity |
Calculating your OPS pension is straightforward. Follow these 7 steps:
You need three pieces of information: Basic Pay (last drawn salary in rupees), Qualifying Service (total years of service), and DA Percentage (current Dearness Relief rate, usually 50-58%).
If qualifying service is less than 10 years, you are NOT eligible for pension. Only those with 10+ years of service qualify.
Full pension (50%) is given for 33 years of service. For less service, it's proportional:
Example: 20 years service → (20 ÷ 33) × 50 = 30.30%
Apply the pension percentage to your basic pay:
Example: ₹60,000 × 30.30% = ₹18,180
Calculate DR based on current DA percentage:
Example: ₹18,180 + (₹18,180 × 58%) = ₹18,180 + ₹10,544 = ₹28,724
If total pension is less than ₹9,000/month, the final pension is fixed at ₹9,000 as per government rules (7th Pay Commission).
You will see:
The official formula for calculating OPS pension as per 7th Pay Commission:
For 33 years or more, pension percentage = 50%
Maximum 50% of last drawn basic pay
Let's calculate the OPS pension for a real example:
= (20 ÷ 33) × 50 = 30.30%
= ₹60,000 × 30.30% = ₹18,180
= ₹18,180 × 58% = ₹10,544
Use the interactive calculator above to calculate your own OPS pension with your specific details. Change the values to see instant results!
The Old Pension Scheme (OPS) is a defined benefit pension system for government employees appointed before 2004. Under OPS, retired employees receive a monthly pension equal to 50% of their last drawn basic pay (for 33 years of service) plus dearness relief, with no employee contribution required during service.
OPS is applicable to central government employees appointed before January 1, 2004, and state government employees in states that have reverted to OPS. The employee must have completed at least 10 years of qualifying service to be eligible for pension.
OPS pension is calculated using the formula: Pension Percentage = (Years of Service ÷ 33) × 50. Basic Pension = Last Drawn Basic Pay × Pension Percentage. Then add Dearness Relief (DR) based on current DA percentage. Minimum pension is ₹9,000 per month.
OPS is a defined benefit scheme with guaranteed pension (50% of last pay for 33 years service) and no employee contribution. NPS is a defined contribution scheme where pension depends on market returns and requires 10% employee contribution. OPS provides family pension, while NPS offers market-linked returns.
Yes, you can commute up to 40% of your basic pension for a lump sum amount. The commuted portion is calculated using commutation tables. This reduces your monthly pension temporarily, but the full pension is restored after 15 years.
Yes, Dearness Relief (DR) is applicable on OPS pension at the same rate as Dearness Allowance (DA) for serving employees. Currently, DA is around 50-58% and is revised twice a year based on AICPIN (All India Consumer Price Index).
The minimum pension under OPS as per 7th Pay Commission is ₹9,000 per month. If the calculated pension (basic pension + dearness relief) is less than ₹9,000, the pensioner will receive ₹9,000 as minimum pension.
Under OPS as per 7th Pay Commission, 33 years of qualifying service is required for full pension of 50% of last drawn basic pay. For less than 33 years, pension is calculated proportionally: (Years of Service ÷ 33) × 50%.
Several states including Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh have announced restoration of OPS or similar schemes for their employees. The implementation varies by state, so check with your state government for specific details.
Family pension under OPS is 30% of the last drawn pay for the first 10 years after the pensioner's death, and 50% of the last drawn pay thereafter. The family pension also receives dearness relief at the same rate as pensioners.