In a significant policy shift, female government employees in the All India Services (AIS) can now nominate their children instead of their husbands to receive family pensions. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has expanded the family pension rules, allowing female officers to prioritize their children over their spouse if they choose to do so.
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A family pension is provided to the nominee after the death of the employee. The change stems from an amendment made in 2024 to the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, which enabled female government employees to designate their children (both sons and daughters) as beneficiaries. This amendment is particularly aimed at supporting women involved in marital disputes, especially those fighting cases under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act and the Dowry Prohibition Act.
For All India Services officers, such as those in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS), Rule 22 of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958 governs family pension. Under this rule, the spouse of a deceased officer is the primary recipient of the family pension, and only after the spouse’s ineligibility or death do the children and other family members become eligible for the benefit. The revised guidelines now provide female officers the right to override this order of succession and directly nominate their children.
Earlier, the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) had issued an order on January 1, 2024, permitting female government employees to nominate their children in cases of ongoing family disputes. Now, through a recent order, the DoPT has extended these provisions to female officers of the AIS, stating: “The provisions mentioned in the aforementioned O.M. dated 01.01.2024 of the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare are now applicable mutatis mutandis to members of All India Services.”
The government has also amended its family pension rules to allow divorced or separated daughters to claim their deceased father’s pension directly, without the need for a court ruling. This change, introduced by Union Minister Mr. Jitendra Singh, aims to simplify the process and provide financial security to women facing marital hardships. Additionally, a female retiree can now nominate her children over her spouse if she has initiated divorce proceedings or is seeking protection under domestic violence or dowry laws.
Further, the updated regulations allow a widow without children to remarry while continuing to receive her late husband’s pension, provided her income is below the minimum pension threshold. These modifications emphasize the government’s commitment to women’s financial rights, ensuring economic security and autonomy, irrespective of marital status.
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