Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
(Central Civil Services)

1. PENSION POLICY

(1.1) Which rules govern pension and gratuity to the employees retiring from Central Government Civil Departments.

Pension and gratuity of the employees retiring from Central Government Departments is regulated by the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972. There are separate rules regarding pension and gratuity of Railway employees and Defence personnel.

(1.2) Is the date of voluntary retirement treated as duty?

Yes, the date of voluntary retirement is treated as duty (Rule 5).

(1.3) Who is eligible for pension?

A Govt. servant appointed in a pensionable establishment on or before 31.12.2003 and retires from Government service with a qualifying service of 10 years or more is eligible for
pension (Rule 2, 49).

(1.4) How is pension calculated?

W.e.f. 1.1.2006, pension is calculated @ 50% of emoluments (last pay) or average emoluments (for last 10 months), whichever is more beneficial to the retiring Govt. servant. (Rule 49).

(1.5) What happens to the departmental proceedings instituted against a Govt. servant during service and pending at the time of retirement? Can pension/gratuity be paid to a retiring, Govt. servant if Departmental/Judicial proceeding are pending against him at the time of retirement?

Department proceedings pending at the time of retirement are deemed to be the proceedings under Rule 9 and shall be continued and concluded by the same disciplinary authority and in the same manner. Thereafter, authority will submit a report recording its finding to the President. In such cases, only provisional pension is paid and gratuity is withheld till the conclusion of departmental proceedings and issue of final orders thereon
by the competent authority.

(1.6) Can Departmental proceedings be instituted after retirement?

Departmental proceeding can be instituted after retirement subject to following conditions:-
(a) Sanction of the President shall be obtained before instituting such proceedings;
(b) The proceedings shall not be in respect of any event which took place more than 4 years such institution;
(c) Proceedings shall be conducted by such authority and in such place or the President may direct and in accordance with rules applicable to departmental proceedings in which an order of dismissal from service could be made in relation to the Govt. servant during his service.

(1.7 ) When is departmental or judicial proceeding deemed to be instituted?

(a) Departmental proceedings shall be deemed to be instituted on the date on which the statement of charges is issued to the Government servant or pensioner, or is the Government servant has been placed under suspension from an earlier dated, on such date;
(b) Judicial proceedings shall be deemed to be instituted-
(i) In the case of criminal proceedings, on the date on which the complaint or report of a Police Officer, of which the Magistrate takes contingence, is made, and
(ii) In the case of civil proceedings, on the date the plaint is presented in the
court.

(1.8) Can the pension/gratuity be withheld on conclusion of departmental/judicial proceedings?

The President reserves to himself the right of withholding a pension or gratuity, or both, either in full or in part, or withdrawing a pension in full or in part, whether permanently or for a specified period, and of ordering recovery from a pension or gratuity of the whole or part of any pecuniary loss caused to the Government, if, in any departmental or judicial proceedings, the pensioner is found guilty of grave misconduct or negligence during the period of service, including service rendered upon re-employment after retirement. Power to withhold/withdraw pension/gratuity is with President and UPSC is required to the consulted before any final orders are passed.

(1.9) Which pay is reckoned as emoluments for pension and gratuity?

The basic pay as defined in FR 9 (21) (a) (i) is reckoned as emoluments for pension. However, Non- Practicing Allowance granted to Medical Officers is also included in emoluments. For the purpose of Retirement/ Death gratuity, Dearness Allowance admissible on the date of retirement/death is also treated as emoluments.

(1.10) Which pay is reckoned as emoluments for pension if the Government servant is on leave, suspension or deputation at the time of retirement?

(a) If a Government servant immediately before his retirement or death while in service had been absent from duty on leave for which leave salary is payable or having been suspended had been reinstated without forfeiture of service, the emoluments which he would have drawn had he not been absent from duty or suspended shall be the emoluments for the purposes of this rule. However, increase in pay (other than the increment) which is not actually drawn shall not form part of his emoluments.

(b) If a Government servant immediately before his retirement or death while in service had been absent from duty on extraordinary leave or had been under suspension, the period whereof does not count as service, the emoluments which he drew immediately before proceeding on such leave or being placed under suspension shall be the emoluments for the purposes of this rule.

(c) If a Government servant immediately before his retirement of death while in service, was on earned leave, and earned an increment which was not withheld, such increment, though not actually drawn, shall form part of his emoluments. However, such increment should have been earned during the currency of the earned leave not exceeding one hundred and twenty days, or during the first one hundred and twenty days of earned leave where such leave was for more than one hundred and twenty days.

(d) Pay drawn by a Government servant while on foreign service shall not be treated as emoluments, but the pay which he would have drawn under the Government had he not been on foreign service shall alone be treated as emoluments.

(1.11) Can a pension be withheld/withdrawn on grounds of misconduct after retirement?

Future good conduct is the implied condition for grant/continuance of pension. The appointing authority may, by order in writing, withhold or withdraw a pension or a part thereof, whether permanently or for a specified period, if the pensioner is convicted of a serious crime or is found guilty of grave misconduct.

(1.12) Can a pension, once authorized, be revised to the disadvantage of pensioner on grounds other than misconduct under Rule 8 and 9.

Except under Rule 8 and 9, pension once authorized after final assessment shall not be revised to the disadvantage of the Government servant, unless such revision becomes necessary on account of detection of a clerical error subsequently. No revision of pension to the disadvantage of the pensioner shall be ordered by the Head of Office without the concurrence of the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare if the clerical error is detected after a period of two years from the date of authorization of pension. The question whether it is a case of clerical error or not would be decided by the administrative Ministry.

(1.13) What is the formula for revision of pension of pre-2006 pensioner/family pensioner?

In terms of para 4.1 of OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 1.9.2008, the pension/family pension will be consolidated w.e.f. 1.1.2006 by adding together (i) The existing pension/family pension,(ii) Dearness Pension, where applicable, (iii)Dearness Relief @24% of basic Pension/Basic Family Pension plus dearness pension as admissible vide OM No.42/2/2006-P&PW(G) dated 5.4.2006 and (iv) Fitment weightage @40% of the existing pension/family pension. Where the existing pension at (i) includes the effect of merger of 50% of DR w.e.f. 1.4.2004, the existing pension for the purpose of fitment weightage will be re-calculated after excluding the merged DR of 50% from the pension. The amount so arrived at will be regarded as consolidated pension/family pension w.e.f. 1.1.2006. The fixation of pension will be subject to the provision that the revised pension, in no case shall be lower than 50% of the minimum of the pay in the pay band plus the grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which the Govt. servant retired. The minimum of pay is the pay band/pay scale is to be reckoned in accordance with DoPPW OM No. 38/37/08-P&PW dated 30.07.2015.

(1.14) Whether all pre-2006 pensioners/family pensioners would get benefit under Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare O.M. NO.38/37/08- P&PW (A) dated 28.1.2013 (now OM dated 30.07.2015)?

There will be no change in the pension of those pre-2006 pensioners whose pension (as revised with effect from 1.1.2006) is already equal to or more than this minimum limit mentioned in the OM dated 28.01.2013 and 30.07.2015. In the case of family pensioner also the minimum family pension as mentioned in Col.10 of the Annexure to the OM dated 28.1.2013 shall be payable if the amount of family pension (w.e.f. 01.01.2006) is equal to or more than this minimum family pension, the same family pension shall continue to be paid.

(1.15) What are the provisions regarding revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners after 7th CPC?

Orders were issued vide OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) dated 04.08.2016 for revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners by multiplying the pre-revised pension by a facor of 2.57. This was to be done by the Pension Disbursing Authorities/ Banks. Further orders were issued vide OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) dated 12.05.2017. As per this OM, the revised pension/family pension w.e.f 01.01.2016 of all Central Civil Pensioners/ family pensioners, including CAPF’s, who retired/died prior to 01.01.2016, shall be revised by notionally fixing their pay in the pay matrix recommended by the 7th CPC in the level corresponding to the pay in the pay scale/ pay band and grade pay at which they retired/ died. This will be done by notional pay fixation under each intervening Pay Commission based on the Formula for revision of pay. While fixing pay on notional basis, the pay fixation formulate approved by the Government and other relevant instructions on the subject in force at the relevant time shall be strictly followed. 50% of the notional pay as on 01.01.2016 shall be the revised pension and 30% of this notional pay shall be the revised family pension w.e.f. 01.01.2016 as per the first Formulation. In this case of family pensioners who were entitled to family pension at enhanced rate, the revised family pension shall be 50% of the notional pay as on 01.01.2016 and shall be payable till the period up to which family pension at enhanced rate is admissible as per rules. The amount of revised pension/family pension so arrived at shall be rounded off to next higher rupee. The pension/ family pension already revised in accordance with this Department’s OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) (ii) dated 04.08.2016 or the revised pension/ family pension as worked out in accordance with OM dated 12.05.2017 shall be granted to pre-2016 central civil pensioners as revised pension/ family pension w.e.f. 01.01.2016. In cases where pension/ family pension being paid w.e.f. 01.01.2016 in accordance with this Department’s OM No. 38/37/2016-P&PW(A) (ii) dated 04.08.2016 happens to be more than pension/ family pension as worked out in accordance with para 4 above, the pension/ family pension already paid shall be treated as revised pension/ family pension w.e.f. 01.01.2016.

(1.16) Is any ready reckoner available for revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners by notional pay fixation method?

A Concordance Table for fixation of notional pay of pension/ family pension of employee who retired/ died in various grades of Vth/ VIth CPC period has been prepared and circulated on 06.07.2017. These Concordance Tables are available on the website of this Department, i.e. http://doppw.gov.in/ and http://pensionersportal.gov.in

(1.17) Is there any online calculator available for fixation/ revision of pension?

A calculator for calculation/ revision of pension/ gratuity is available on the website of this Department, i.e. http://doppw.gov.in/ and http://pensionersportal.gov.in/

(1.18) What is the amount of minimum and maximum pension after Seventh CPC?

The pension shall not be less than Rs.9000/- (excluding the element of additional pension to old pensioners) and shall not be more than 50% of the highest pay in Government i.e Rs 1,25,000/- w.e.f. 01.01.2016.

(1.19) From where can we download the pension /nomination Forms ?

All forms are available at the website of Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare.

(1.20) When can a Government servant apply for voluntary retirement?

Under Rule 48, a Government servant can apply for voluntary retirement after completion of 30 years of qualifying service. Under Rule 48-A, he can apply for voluntary retirement after completion of qualifying service of 20 years. Under FR 56 (k) he can apply for voluntary retirement an attaining the age of 50 years (for Gr. A & B) and 55 years (in other cases).

(1.21) Whether older pensioners will get higher rate of pension?

Yes, from 1.1.2006, the quantum of pension/family pension available to old
pensioners/family pensioners has been increased as follows:-
O.M.No. 38/37/08- P&PW(A) dated 2.9.2008 .

(1.22) Is additional pension admissible to old family pensioners also?

Yes, the rates related to additional pension as applicable in the case of old pensioners hold good for family pensioners, as well.

(1.23) Whether the provision of added years in qualifying service for computation of pension is still in force?

The benefit of added years of qualifying service for computation of pension/related benefits has been withdrawn w.e.f. 01.01.2006.

(1.24) Whether the provision of added years in qualifying service has been withdrawn for calculating gratuity also?

Yes, w.e.f. 01.01.2006.

(1.25) Whether the additional pension/family pension available to old pensioners would be payable from the date of attaining age of 80 years or above or from the first day of the month in which the date of birth falls?

The additional quantum of pension/family pension, on attaining the age of 80 years and above, would be admissible from the 1st day of month in which his date of birth falls. For example, if a pensioner/family pensioner completes age of 80 years in the month of August, 2008, he will be entitled to additional pension/family pension w.e.f. 1.8.2008. Those pensioners/family pensioners whose date of birth is 1st August, will also be entitled to additional pension/family pension w.e.f. 1.8.2008 on attaining the age of 80 years and above.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Payment of Pension to Government Pensioners

(Updated as on December 22, 2017)

Scheme for Payment of Pension to Central Government Pensioners by Authorised Banks

Pension schemes/rules are formulated by the respective Central Government Ministries/Departments. A link to some of such schemes are available at www.rbi.org.in under Notifications> Master Circulars>Banker to Banks>Disbursement of Pension by Agency Banks. The Reserve Bank of India (the Reserve Bank) oversees disbursement of pension by its agency banks in respect of all Central Government Departments. In the process, it receives queries/complaints from pensioners in regard to fixation, calculation and payment of pension including revision of pension/Dearness Relief, transfer of pension account from one bank branch to another, etc. The Reserve Bank has analysed the queries/complaints, and put them in the form of answers to Frequently Asked Questions here. It is hoped that these will cover most of the queries/ doubts in the minds of pensioners.

1. Can the pensioner draw his/ her pension through a bank branch?

Yes. Even the Government employees earlier drawing their pension from a treasury or from a post office have the option to draw their pension from the authorized bank’s branches.

2. Who is the pension sanctioning authority?

The Ministry/ Department /Office where the Government servant last served is the pension sanctioning authority. The pension fixation is made by such authority for the first time and thereafter the refixation of pay, if any, is done by the pension paying bank based on the instructions from the concerned Central/ State Government authority.

3. Is it necessary for the pensioner to open a separate pension account for the purpose of crediting his/ her pension in authorized bank?

The pensioner is not required to open a separate pension account. The pension can be credited to his/her existing savings/ current account maintained with the branch selected by the pensioner.

4. Can a pensioner open a Joint Account with his/ her spouse?

Yes. All pensioners of the Central Government Pensioners can open Joint Account with their spouses.

5. Whether Joint Account of the pensioner with spouse can be operated either by ”Former or Survivor” or “Either or Survivor”.

Yes, the Joint Account of the pensioner with spouse can be operated either as ‘‘Former or Survivor” or “Either or Survivor”.

6. Whether a Joint Account can be continued for family pension after death of a pensioner?

Yes, the banks should not insist on opening of a new account in case of Central Government pensioner if the spouse in whose favour an authorization for family pension exists in the Pension Payment Order (PPO) is the survivor and the family pension should be credited to the existing account without opening a new account by the family pensioner for this purpose.

7. What is the minimum balance required to be maintained in the pension account maintained with the banks?

RBI has not stipulated any minimum balance to be maintained in pension accounts by the pensioners. Individual banks have framed their own rules in this regard.

8. Who sends the Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) to the authorized bank?

The concerned pension sanctioning authorities in the Ministries /Departments/ forward the PPOs to bank branches wherefrom the pensioner desires to draw his/her pension. However, on implementation of CPPCs, pension sanctioning authorities have started sending PPOs to the CPPCs of the bank instead of bank branch.

9. When is the pension credited to the pensioner’s account by the paying branch?

The disbursement of pension by the paying branch is spread over the last four working days of the month depending on the convenience of the pension paying branch except for the month of March when the pension is credited on or after the first working day of April.

10. Can a pensioner transfer his/ her pension account from one branch to another branch of the same bank or to the branch of another bank?

Pensioner can transfer his/ her pension account from one branch to another branch of the same bank and from one authorized bank to another authorized bank within the same centre or at a different centre;

11. Whether the paying branch has to maintain a detailed record of pension payments made by it in the prescribed form?

Yes. The pension paying branch/ CPPC is required to maintain a detailed record of pension payments made by it from time to time in the prescribed form duly authenticated by the authorized officer.

12. Can the pension paying bank recover the excess amount credited to the pensioner’s account?

Yes. The paying branch before commencement of pension obtains an undertaking from the pensioner in the prescribed form for this purpose and, therefore, can recover the excess payment made to the pensioner’s account due to delay in receipt of any material information or due to any bonafide error. The bank also has the right to recover the excess amount of pension credited to the deceased pensioner’s account from his/her legal heirs/nominees.

13. Is it compulsory for a pensioner to furnish a Life Certificate/Non-Employment Certificate or Employment Certificate to the bank in the month of November? If so, how can this requirement be complied with?

Yes. The pensioner is required to furnish a Life Certificate / Non – Employment Certificate or Employment Certificate to the bank in the prescribed format in the month of November every year to ensure continued receipt of pension without interruption. The pensioner can also present himself / herself at any branch of the pension paying bank for being identified for issue of life certificate. In case a pensioner is unable to obtain a Life Certificate on account of serious illness / incapacitation, bank official will visit his / her residence / hospital for the purpose of obtaining the life certificate.

There have been complaints that life certificates submitted over the counter of pension paying branches are misplaced causing delay in payment of monthly pensions. In order to alleviate the hardships faced by pensioners, agency banks were instructed to mandatorily issue duly signed acknowledgements. They were also requested to consider entering the receipt of life certificates in their CBS and issue a system generated acknowledgement which would serve the twin purpose of acknowledgement as well as real time updation of records.

A pensioner having Aadhar number can alternatively submit Jeevan Pramaan, a digital life certificate introduced by the Government of India. For obtaining this, he / she will have to enrol and biometrically authenticate himself / herself by downloading the application generating digital life certificate from the website jeevanpramaan.gov.in or other means described on the website. Once digital life certificates in the form of Jeevan Pramaan are fully implemented, pension paying branches will be able to obtain information about the digital life certificate of their pensioner customers by logging on to the website of Jeevan Pramaan and searching for the certificate or by downloading through their Core Banking Systems. Pensioners will also be able to forward to their bank branches by email/sms the relative link to their digital life certificate.

14. Who is responsible for deduction of Income Tax at source from pension payment?

The pension paying bank is responsible for deduction of Income Tax from pension amount in accordance with the rates prescribed by the Income Tax authorities from time to time. While deducting such tax from the pension amount, the paying bank will also allow deductions on account of relief to the pensioner available under the Income Tax Act. The paying branch, in April each year, will also issue to the pensioner a certificate of tax deduction as per the prescribed form. If the pensioner is not liable to pay Income Tax, he should furnish to the pension paying branch, a declaration to that effect in the prescribed form.

15. Can old, sick physically handicapped pensioner who is unable to sign, open pension account or withdraw his/ her pension from the pension account?

A pensioner, who is old, sick or lost both his/her hands and, therefore, cannot sign, can put any mark or thumb/ toe impression on the form for opening of pension account. While withdrawing the pension amount he/she can put thumb/toe impression on the cheque/withdrawal form and it should be identified by two independent witnesses known to the bank one of whom should be a bank official.

16. Can a pensioner withdraw pension from his/ her account when he/she is not able to sign or put thumb/toe impression or unable to be present in the bank?

In such cases, a pensioner can put any mark or impression on the cheque/ withdrawal form and may indicate to the bank as to who would withdraw pension amount from the bank on the basis of cheque/withdrawal form. Such a person should be identified by two independent witnesses. The person who is actually drawing the money from the bank should be asked to furnish his/her specimen signature to the bank.

17. When does the family pension commence?

The family pension commences after the death of the pensioner. The family pension is payable to the person indicated in the PPO on receipt of a death certificate and application from the nominee.

18. How the payment of Dearness Relief at revised rate is to be paid to the pensioners?

Whenever any additional relief on pension/family pension is sanctioned by the Government, the same is intimated to the agency banks for issuing suitable instructions to their pension paying branches for payment of relief at the revised rates to the pensioners without any delay. The orders issued by Government Departments are also hosted on their websites and banks have been advised to watch the latest instructions on the website and act accordingly without waiting for any further orders from RBI in this regard.

19. Can pensioners get pension slips?

Yes. As decided by the Central Government (Civil, Defence & Railways), pension paying banks have been advised to issue pension slips to the pensioners in prescribed form when the pension is paid for the first time and thereafter whenever there is a change in quantum of pension due to revision in basic pension or revision in Dearness Relief.

20. Which authority the pensioner should approach for redressal of his/ her grievances?

Branch/CPPC is the point of referral for the pensioner. Pensioners can approach the nodal officer(s) designated by the respective banks who would be holding regular meetings at different locations in their jurisdiction on lines of Pension Adalat. They can also contact the bank through toll free dedicated pension line of the respective bank to seek information related to their queries/complaints. In case of deficiency in service offered by the bank, pensioner can approach the concerned Consumer Education and Protection Cell at respective Regional Office of RBI and Banking Ombudsman under whose jurisdiction the bank branch, where the pensioner holds the account, falls.

21. Where can a pensioner get information about the changes in the pension/Dearness Relief or any pension related issue?

The pensioner can visit the Official Website of the concerned Government Department as also Reserve Bank of India Website (www.rbi.org.in) to get the information about pension related issues.

22. Whether a pensioner is entitled for any compensation from the agency banks for delayed credit of pension/ arrears of pension?

Yes. A Pensioner is entitled for compensation for delayed credit of pension/arrears thereof at the fixed rate of 8% per annum (since October 1, 2008) and the same would be credited to the pensioner’s account automatically by the bank on the same day when the bank affords delayed credit of such pension / arrears etc. without any claim from the pensioner.

These FAQs are issued by the Reserve Bank of India (The Reserve Bank) for information and general guidance purposes only which cannot be quoted in any legal proceeding and will have no legal purpose. It is not intended to be treated as legal advice or legal opinion. The Reserve Bank will not be held responsible for actions taken and/or decisions made on the basis of the same. For clarifications or interpretations, if any, readers are requested to be guided by the relevant circulars and notifications issued from time to time by the Reserve Bank and the Government.

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