Rajya Sabha Q&A: Additional quantum of pension under 80 years been worked out

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS’ WELFARE)

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2520
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2022)

PROPOSAL FOR ADDITIONAL QUANTUM OF PENSION

2520 SHRI NARAIN DASS GUPTA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

(a) whether the present pensions in the lower rungs are commensurate to the current higher cost of living, if adjusted to the rate of inflation;

(b) whether the proposal of the Parliament Standing Committee on the additional quantum of pension to central pensioners below 80 years of age is being considered;

(c) whether Government has prepared a roadmap to implement the recommendations of the Standing Committee; and

(d) whether the re-implementation of the old pension policy is being considered by Government as pension is the only means of sustenance after retirement for a large section of the society?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a): Yes, Sir. In order to protect against the erosion in the real value of a basic pension on account of inflation, Dearness Relief is granted to the pensioners and family pensioners of the Central Government. The rates of the Dearness Relief are revised periodically, every six months, on the basis of the rate of inflation as per the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers released by the Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour and Employment.

(b) & (c): In its 110th report, the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice expressed the view that the Government should sympathetically consider the demand of Pensioners’ Associations for an additional quantum of pension at the rate of 5%, 10% and 15% of basic pension on attaining the age of 65 years, 70 years and 75 years, respectively to the pensioners and recommended the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare to pursue the matter with Ministry of Finance. Accordingly, after working out the likely financial implications based on the data made available by the concerned Departments, a reference in this regard has been made to the Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure).

(d): There is no such proposal under consideration by the Government.