The Nagaland National Pension System Government Service Employees Forum (NNPSGSEF) on Wednesday organized a statewide “Black Day,” drawing participation from government employees across Nagaland covered under the National Pension System (NPS), in a renewed push for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
The observance reflected a unified expression of growing dissatisfaction among employees over the existing pension framework, with the Forum reiterating long-standing concerns regarding financial insecurity, market-linked risks, and the absence of guaranteed post-retirement benefits under NPS.
According to the Forum, apprehensions surrounding NPS have persisted for years, with employees questioning the uncertainty of returns, high fund management costs, and annuity-related issues. Despite repeated appeals and nationwide movements demanding a rollback of NPS, the Centre introduced the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) on April 1, 2025, as a modified version within the NPS framework.
However, NNPSGSEF maintained that the introduction of UPS has failed to address the core concerns of employees. Instead, it has further deepened anxiety by continuing to expose retirement savings to market fluctuations, without ensuring fixed and adequate pension benefits.
Reaffirming its stand, the Forum stated that only the Old Pension Scheme can guarantee social and economic security in old age, ensuring dignity and stability for retired employees. It emphasized that both NPS and UPS fall short in providing reliable financial protection, as they do not assure fixed returns and leave employees vulnerable to inflation and market volatility.
The statewide protest witnessed participation from employees across districts, symbolizing a collective demand for policy reconsideration. The Forum asserted that the “Black Day” was not merely symbolic but a strong message reflecting the disappointment and frustration of the workforce.
As part of the programme, representatives of the NNPSGSEF, including its central and Dimapur district units, met the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, to raise awareness and discuss the implications of the pension policies.
Speaking on the occasion, State President Avizo Nienu highlighted that under the current system, the government does not bear responsibility for ensuring fixed pension income, placing the entire burden and risk on employees. He cautioned that returns under NPS and UPS may not keep pace with inflation, thereby diminishing the real value of retirement savings over time.
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Extending solidarity, Dr. Manjeet Singh Patel, National President of the All India NPS Employees Federation (AINPSEF), reaffirmed continued support to the movement. He stated that while certain reforms had been achieved within the NPS framework, the demand for restoration of OPS remains unresolved and will continue until fulfilled.
Patel also disclosed that AINPSEF has engaged with the Centre on multiple occasions, including meetings with Union Minister of DoPT Dr. Jitendra Singh on January 14, 2025 and February 24, 2026, to highlight the shortcomings of NPS and UPS.
He further informed that a high-level expert committee was constituted by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) in February 2026 to examine concerns related to the implementation of the schemes.
The NNPSGSEF reiterated its commitment to intensifying peaceful and democratic protests until the demand for restoration of the Old Pension Scheme is met, asserting that the issue concerns not just financial policy but the long-term welfare and dignity of government employees.
