UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — T.N. announces assured pension scheme for State govt. staff

Q1. Who chaired the three-member Pension Committee constituted by the Tamil Nadu government whose 2025 report led to the announcement of the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS)?

  • A. Gagandeep Singh Bedi
  • B. K. R. Shanmugam
  • C. Pratik Tayal
  • D. Soumya Kanti Ghosh

Q2. Under the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS), 2026, the term 'assured pension' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. 50% of the last-drawn basic pay of the employee
  • B. 50% of the average basic pay drawn during the last 12 months of service
  • C. 50% of the last-drawn gross emoluments, including all allowances
  • D. A flat minimum amount of ₹10,000 per month irrespective of basic pay

Q3. Consider the following features attributed to the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS), 2026: 1. Pension fixed at 50% of the last-drawn basic pay. 2. Monthly employee contribution of 10% of basic pay. 3. Family pension equal to 60% of the pension granted to a nominated beneficiary. 4. Maximum gratuity ceiling of ₹20 lakh based on length of service. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?

  1. Pension fixed at 50% of the last-drawn basic pay.
  2. Monthly employee contribution of 10% of basic pay.
  3. Family pension equal to 60% of the pension granted to a nominated beneficiary.
  4. Maximum gratuity ceiling of ₹20 lakh based on length of service.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4

Q4. With reference to the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS) and the Centre's Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), consider the following statements: 1. TAPS computes the assured pension as 50% of the last-drawn basic pay, whereas UPS computes it as 50% of the average basic pay of the last 12 months of service. 2. TAPS replaces the Contributory Pension Scheme for Tamil Nadu State government employees, whereas UPS is offered as an option within the National Pension System for Central government employees. 3. Both TAPS and UPS prescribe a minimum qualifying service of 25 years to draw the full assured pension. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. TAPS computes the assured pension as 50% of the last-drawn basic pay, whereas UPS computes it as 50% of the average basic pay of the last 12 months of service.
  2. TAPS replaces the Contributory Pension Scheme for Tamil Nadu State government employees, whereas UPS is offered as an option within the National Pension System for Central government employees.
  3. Both TAPS and UPS prescribe a minimum qualifying service of 25 years to draw the full assured pension.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) — the Central precedent invoked by Tamil Nadu while designing TAPS — was operationalised as an option under the National Pension System through regulations notified by which one of the following statutory authorities?

  • A. Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)
  • B. Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
  • C. Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
  • D. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)