A high-level committee appointed by the Tamil Nadu government has submitted its final report on pension reforms to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, addressing long-standing demands from government employees for the return of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).For years, government employees and teachers in the State have been urging the re-introduction of the Old Pension Scheme, which existed prior to April 1, 2003, and was replaced by a contributory system. As part of this demand, workers have occasionally staged protests to draw the attention of state authorities.
In February 2025, the government formed a three-member committee under the leadership of senior IAS officer Gagandeep Singh Bedi to review the Old Pension Scheme, Contributory Pension Scheme, and the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). The panel was instructed to study the feasibility and implications of each system and submit its recommendations within nine months.
Over the course of the year, the committee conducted multiple consultations with government employee unions, financial institutions including LIC, and other stakeholders. It had earlier submitted an interim report in October, and the full report has now been formally handed over to the Chief Minister.
Senior ministers E.V. Velu, Thangam Thennarasu, and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi also reviewed the interim findings, and discussions continue between the government and employee unions about next steps.
The government is expected to announce its decision on the recommendations — including possible changes to retirement benefits for current and future employees — in the coming days.