Summary: The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, issued an Office Memorandum dated 26 October 2026 clarifying the counting of past service on reinstatement under Rule 25 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021. The memorandum explains the treatment of qualifying service where a Government servant, previously dismissed, removed or compulsorily retired, is subsequently reinstated through an appeal or review. It reiterates that such a Government servant is entitled to count past service as qualifying service for pension purposes. The memorandum further clarifies that the period between dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement and subsequent reinstatement does not automatically qualify as pensionable service. Similarly, any period of suspension is excluded from qualifying service unless the authority responsible for passing the reinstatement order specifically regularises the relevant period as duty or leave. Accordingly, the counting of past service following reinstatement is distinct from the treatment of the intervening period and any suspension period. The latter periods require a specific order of regularisation before they can be counted towards qualifying service. The Department has requested all Ministries and Departments to bring these provisions to the attention of personnel responsible for pensionary benefits in their respective establishments, including attached and subordinate offices. The communication emphasises strict implementation of Rule 25 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, which replaced the corresponding pension rules of 1972. The Office Memorandum, bearing No. 28/04/2024-P&PW(I)/QS/10145-II, has been issued by Ravindra Kumar Yadav, Under Secretary to the Government of India.
No. 28/04/2024-P&PW(I)/QS/10145-II
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market
New Delhi, Dated the 26th October, 2026
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Counting of past service on reinstatement under the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021 (Rule 25).
The undersigned is directed to say that Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare has notified the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021 in supersession of the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 1972. In accordance with Rule 25 of the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021, if a Government servant who was dismissed, removed or compulsorily retired from service, and is subsequently reinstated on appeal or review, is entitled to count his past service as qualifying service.
2. The period of interruption in service between the date of dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement, as the case may be, and the date of reinstatement, and the period of suspension, if any, shall not count as qualifying service unless regularized as duty or leave by a specific order of the authority which passed the order of reinstatement.
3. All Ministries/Departments are requested that the above provisions regarding Counting of past service on reinstatement under the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021 may be brought to the notice of the personnel dealing with the pensionary benefits in the Ministry/Department and attached/subordinate offices thereunder, for strict implementation.
(Ravindra Kumar Yadav)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
To,
All Ministries/Departments/Organisations,
(As per standard list)
