Indian government is proactively updating pension rules to reflect modern social realities, introducing digital tools and inclusive policies to better support retired citizens and their families.
Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh said on Monday that the government is keeping pension rules under constant review so they better reflect changing social needs and remain easier to use for citizens. Speaking in New Delhi at the 9th National Anubhav Awards Ceremony and the 60th Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshop, Singh said the administration was in a “continuous reformative mode” and open to further changes as social expectations evolve.
Singh said recent changes have focused on family pension rules and on making the system more responsive to modern household realities. He pointed to amendments that extend family pension benefits to divorced and separated daughters, and to greater flexibility for women government employees in nominating their children rather than their husbands. He also cited the enhanced family pension available to families of government employees who die in service, which he said is paid at 50% of last pay for 10 years.
The minister said the government had also dropped a minimum-service condition that had applied in some cases where an employee died while still in service. According to his remarks, the earlier seven-year threshold was removed because the family left behind may have greater need for support after such a loss. He added that pension forms and procedures have been simplified to cut down paperwork and make the process less burdensome for pensioners.
Singh also highlighted technology-driven measures such as digital life certificates and face authentication, which he said are intended to make life easier for older pensioners. He noted that while a large share of India’s population is below the age of 40, the absolute number of older citizens is also rising, making it more important to improve access to services and support their welfare. The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, he said, remains open to suggestions from pensioners and other stakeholders as reforms continue.
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