The National Pension Plan, otherwise known as civil pension plan commenced payment of pension benefits to the retiring members with effect from 1st July 2002. As an auspicious token to mark the commencement of pension benefit payments, three retired members were awarded the first pensioners certificate by the then Head of the Government during the inauguration ceremony on 3rd July, 2002. These members were Dasho Dorji Wangdi, Hon’ble Jude of High Court, Dasho Tikaram Giri, Joint Director, Department of Forests and Dasho Dago Tshering, Dzongrab Gom, Thimphu Dzongkhag.

The National Pension Plan is based on the concept of making contributions to the Plan during working years and receiving benefits when retired. The benefits under the Plan may be broadly categorized as

• Member retirement pension
• Permanent disability benefit
• Surviving spouse benefit
• Surviving children benefit
• Orphan benefit
• Dependent parent benefit

The National Pension Plan currently covers civil servants, employees of the government-owned corporations and the joint sector companies. There are plans for the old age retirement schemes to be gradually expanded to include sectors other than the civil servants and the corporations.