The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, through Office Memorandum No. 57/05/2021-P&PW(B)/Compassionatal/10593 dated 22 June 2026, has clarified the crucial date for determining coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 for employees appointed on compassionate grounds. Following inter-ministerial consultations and discussions with the Department of Expenditure, the Government has decided that the date of application for compassionate appointment, rather than the date of appointment, will be treated as the determining date, provided the applicant was eligible for consideration when the application was submitted. Accordingly, eligible family members who applied for compassionate appointment on or before 31 December 2003 will be considered for coverage under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, even if their appointment took place after 1 January 2004. The Office Memorandum directs all Ministries and Departments to apply these instructions in relevant cases. The decision was issued in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and, for the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
PENSION FUND REGULATORY AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Office Memorandum No. 57/05/2021-P&PW(B)/Compassionatal/10593
Date: 22/06/2026
Consideration of crucial date for compassionate appointments for inclusion under the CCS (Pension) Rules.
The undersigned is directed to say that the proposal has been received in this Department for consideration of employees appointed on compassionate ground for inclusion under old pension scheme in accordance with the principle underlying the DOPPW OM dated 03.03,2023 by fixing a date of advertisement in their case. It was also requested by the staff side during the meeting of National Council (Jelv1) held on 25.02.2025 under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Pension) that the facility of coverage under OPS be extended to compassionate ground appointees who had submitted their application before 01.01.2004 but were appointed after 01.01.2004. Further. it was highlighted that there is no Notification/Advertisement in the case of appointments on compassionate grounds.
2. After inter-ministerial consultation and examination in consultation with the Department of Expenditure and it has been decided that the date of application for Compassionate Appointment shall be considered as the crucial date for compassionate appointments provided that the applicants were eligible to be considered for appointment at the time of their application.
The family member who is eligible for being considered for appointment and have applied for compassionate appointment on or before 31,122003, shall be considered under CCS (Pension) Rules. 2021 by the concerned Ministries/Departments
3. All Ministries/Departments are requested that the above instructions may be considered in all such cases of compassionate appointments.
4. This issues in consultation with Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure Vide ID Note No.1(7)/EV/2019 dated 21.05.2026.
5. In their application to the employees of Indian Audit and Accounts Department. these orders are issued after consultation with Comptroller and Auditor General of India, as mandated under Article 148(5) of the Constitution.
6. Hindi version will follow.
To
1. All Central Government Ministries/Departments
2. Department of Expenditure. Ministry of Finance, North Block, New Delhi.
3. C&AG, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi
4. Ministry of Railways, Railway Board, for information. New Delhi
5. Department of Personal and Training, North Block, New Delhi
6. Department of Financial Services. Jeevan Deep Building. Parliament Street. New Delhi.
7. DD (OL) for Hindi version.
8. NIC for uploading on Department’s website.
