Returning to Old Pension Scheme is almost impossible: Nirmala Sitharaman at ET Awards for Corporate Excellence

Replying to a question at the Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman ruled out return to the Old Pension Scheme, despite announcements made by some state governments. Sitharaman said that mostly it is the political parties that are trying to throw populist cards at the people to try and win elections as they see no other way to win. She said that it is not the people who are demanding populist measures, but the Opposition parties are trying to lure voters through these proposals. On the OPS, she said that it will burden state governments excessively in the next 5-10 years. However, she also added that a panel is looking at various aspects of the pension issue.