The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, recently issued a directive on October 25, 2024, focusing on regular verification of qualifying service for government employees. This Office Memorandum aims to ensure accurate tracking of employees' service records for pension eligibility, thereby minimizing errors or delays at retirement.
Key Points of the Directive
Who Is Affected:
The directive applies to government employees who have completed 18 years of service and are within five years of their expected retirement.
Verification Process:
According to Rule 30 (1) of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, the Head of Office, with assistance from the Accounts Officer, must verify employees' qualifying service. This verified service record, confirming pension eligibility, is then communicated to the employee in Format 4.
Reporting Requirements:
A report must be submitted annually by January 31st to the Secretary of each Administrative Ministry or Department. This report should detail the number of eligible employees, those who received their service verification certificate, and any reasons for delays or omissions.
Impact on NPS Employees:
The directive also includes employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS) per Rule 21 of the CCS (Payment of Gratuity under NPS) Rules, 2021. This ensures that NPS employees have their service verified consistently, supporting transparency in gratuity and pension eligibility.
Ensuring Departmental Compliance
Despite regular communication of these requirements, many departments reportedly fail to provide timely service verification to employees. This memorandum is a reminder for Heads of Offices to ensure compliance and keep employees informed about their qualifying service well ahead of retirement.
S. Chakrabarti, Under Secretary to the Government of India, stressed the significance of these checks, highlighting that they ensure a smooth retirement transition and protect employees from future issues. The memorandum calls for strict adherence to these guidelines.
For Government Employees:
This memorandum offers government employees assurance that their service and pension eligibility will be verified on schedule, aiming to prevent last-minute delays in pension processing. The government’s approach is designed to support a smoother, more reliable transition to retirement for its employees, with benefits securely in place.
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