Page 7 - NIS English 16-31 July,2025

Now annual fast tag for three thousand rupees

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced a major relief for commuters. It has
introduced an annual FASTag pass for travel on national highways, priced at just Rs 3,000. This new
initiative will be implemented nationwide from August 15, providing a more convenient and cost-
effective option for highway users. This decision will be implemented across the country from August
15. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari said that the price of the annual
FASTag will be three thousand rupees. With this, 200 trips can be made in a year (one toll is equal to one
trip). He said that with this decision, people travelling in their own vehicles on the national highway will
save at least Rs 7,000 a year. After this decision, an average toll of 15 rupees will have to be paid at a toll.
This facility will be only for the national highway. It will not be applicable on the state highway.

EPFO increases settlement Unified Pension Scheme
limit from R1 lakh to R5 lakh opting deadline extended

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation by 3 months; new deadline
(EPFO) has taken an important decision for
member employees. EPFO has decided to increase is 30 September
the auto-settlement limit for advance claims from The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), aimed at
the existing Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. This move will providing stability, dignity, and financial security
help lakhs of EPFO members to get quick funds, to government employees, can now be opted
especially in times of urgent need. In FY 2024- for until 30 September 2025. Previously, the
25, EPFO successfully settled a record 2.34 crore deadline was 30 June 2025. After the request
advance claims through auto-settlement, which from various stakeholders to extend the cut-
is 161% more than the previous year. Continuing off date, the Ministry of Finance has decided
this growth, in the first two and a half months of to extend it by 3 more months. Under UPS,
FY 2025-26, EPFO has automatically settled 76.52 a fixed pension is provided to the central
lakh claims, which is about 70% of all the advance government employees after retirement. It was
claims settled so far. started on 24 February 2024. Now the cut-off
date for opting for UPS has been extended
for existing eligible employees, former retired
employees and legally married spouses of
deceased former retired employees.

July 16-31, 2025 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 5