Retirement benefits for Central Government employees

Retirement benefits for Central Government employees  who were appointed on or after 1.1.2004 are not eligible for retirement benefits such as pension, General Provident Fund and Gratuity.

A new restructured defined contribution pension system for the new entrants to Central Government service, except to the Armed Forces, replacing the system of defined benefit pension including GPF, was notified on 22nd December, 2003. The Government employees appointed on or after 1.1.2004 and governed by the New Pension System can withdraw 60% of their Pension Fund as a lumpsum when they retire and the balance 40% of their wealth is used to purchase an annuity scheme from a life insurance company of their choice, which will pay him/her a monthly pension for the rest of his life. In casethe employees leave the New Pension Scheme prior to age 60, the mandatory anuitization would be 80% of the pension wealth.

The monthly annuity under the New Pension Scheme is only a replacement of pension on retirement and family pension on death after retirement. The benefits of Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG) and pension/family pension have been provisionally allowed, vide Department of Pension & Pensioners` Welfare OM No. 38/41/06-P&PW(A) dated 5.5.2009, in respect of the Central Government servants covered by the New Pension Scheme in cases where a Government Servant is retired on invalidation/disability and in the case of death of a Government servant in service, on the same rates as are applicable under the old pension scheme, i.e. CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

The details of DCRG payable to employees of Central Government under NPS are as under:

(i) The retirement gratuity is payable to the retiring Government servant. A minimum of 5 years qualifying service and eligibility to receive service gratuity/ pension is essential to get this one time lump sum benefit. Retirement gratuity is calculated @ l/4th of a month`s Basic Pay plus Dearness Allowance drawn before retirement for each completed six monthly period of qualifying service. The maximum retirement gratuity payable is 16 XA times the Basic Pay, subject to a maximum of Rs. 10 lakhs.

(ii) If the Government Servant dies while in service, the death gratuity shall be paid to his family at the rates furnished in the table below:

Length of Qualifying Service Rate of Death Gratuity

Less than one year 2 times of emoluments

One year or more but less than 5 years 6 times of emoluments

5 years or more but less than 20 years 12 times of emoluments

20 years or more Half of emoluments for every completed six monthly period of qualifying service subject to a maximum of 33 times of emoluments.

Maximum amount of Death Gratuity admissible is Rs. 10 lakhs w.e.f. 1.1.2006.