<h1>Unified Pension Scheme option offers an assured pension alternative to the National Pension System for eligible employees.</h1> The Finance Ministry notified the Unified Pension Scheme as an option within the National Pension System, providing an assured pension equal to half the average basic pay of the final twelve months before superannuation, subject to a minimum qualifying service and proportionate reductions for shorter service. The scheme excludes assured payouts for removal, dismissal, or resignation, provides a minimum guaranteed payout where qualifying service meets a lower threshold, allows transfer of the NPS corpus to the UPS upon election, and entitles a legally wedded spouse to a family payout on the member's death after superannuation; Dearness Relief is payable on assured and family payouts.