71,055 pensioners in Nagaland as of 2023-24
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 12
Nagaland had 71,055 pensioners as of March 31, 2024, and spent Rs 3,101.92 crore on pensions and other retirement benefits during the year, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s report on state finances tabled at the 7th session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
The report said the 71,055 pensioners comprised 48,546 original pensioners and 22,509 family pensioners. Expenditure on pensions accounted for 20.93% of the state’s revenue expenditure in 2023-24.
The major components were superannuation and retirement allowances (Rs 1,750.78 crore), commuted value of pensions (Rs 284.94 crore), gratuities (Rs 374.06 crore) and family pensions (Rs 278.00 crore). The outgo rose by Rs 282.76 crore from the previous year. Among states and union territories that saw double-digit increases, Nagaland ranked ninth.
State government employees appointed on or after Jan. 1, 2010, are covered under the National Pension System, a defined contributory pension scheme. All India Service officers have been under the scheme since Jan. 1, 2004. Employees contribute 10% of basic pay plus dearness allowances and the state matches with 14% of basic pay plus dearness allowances since April 1, 2019. Contributions are transferred to the designated fund manager through the National Securities Depository Ltd./Trustee Bank. Employee subscriptions are credited to MH-8342-117 “Defined Contributory Pension Scheme (DCPS)” for government servants, while the employer’s matching contribution is debited to MH-2071 “Pensions and Other Retirement Benefits.”
The number of employees under NPS increased from 32,760 on March 31, 2023, to 35,564 on March 31, 2024, of whom 34,645 had been allotted Permanent Retirement Account Numbers. Total subscription received in 2023-24 was Rs 577.51 crore — including employees’ contribution of Rs 149.20 crore, government contribution of Rs 407.25 crore, penal interest of Rs 13.77 crore and service charge to NSDL of Rs 7.29 crore. Against this, the state transferred Rs 707.59 crore from the public account under Major Head 8342-117 to NSDL.
As of March 31, 2024, Rs 91.99 crore remained outstanding under the DCPS head and had not been transferred to NSDL. “Thus, un-transferred amounts, with accrued interest represent outstanding liabilities under the scheme,” the report said.
On April 1, 2023, the balance under the head was Rs 222.07 crore. Interest payable by the state government for 2023-24 worked out to Rs 15.77 crore, but only Rs 13.77 crore was paid, resulting in a short payment of Rs 2 crore. This led to an overstatement of revenue surplus and understatement of fiscal deficit by that amount.
During an exit conference on December 16, 2024, the Finance Department stated that timely contribution to the NPS account “shall be ensured so as to avoid losses to the subscribers,” according to the report.
