Introduction: The Government of India, under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, has issued an Office Memorandum regarding the revision of Dearness Relief for Central Government pensioners and family pensioners, effective from January 1, 2024.
Detailed Analysis: The memorandum outlines that the Dearness Relief (DR) admissible to Central Government Pensioners/Family Pensioners shall be increased from the existing rate of 46% to 50% of the basic pension/family pension. This enhancement is aimed at providing financial assistance to pensioners to cope with the rising cost of living.
The revised rates of DR are applicable to various categories, including civilian central government pensioners, armed forces pensioners, all India service pensioners, railway pensioners, and others as specified in the memorandum. The payment of DR involving a fraction of a rupee will be rounded off to the next higher rupee.
Furthermore, the memorandum emphasizes that the payment of arrears of DR shall not be made before the date of disbursement of pension/family pension of March 2024. It also provides instructions for the calculation and disbursement of DR by pension disbursing authorities, including nationalized banks.
The document highlights the provisions governing DR for employed family pensioners and re-employed central government pensioners, as well as the regulation of DR for pensioners receiving multiple pensions.
Conclusion: The revision in Dearness Relief for Central Government pensioners and family pensioners is a significant step towards ensuring their financial well-being in the face of inflationary pressures. By increasing the DR rate to 50%, the government aims to alleviate the economic challenges faced by pensioners and their families. It is crucial for pension disbursing authorities to adhere to the instructions outlined in the memorandum to facilitate timely and accurate disbursement of DR to eligible pensioners.
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No. 42/02/2024-P&PW(D)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
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3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi-110003
Date :- 13th March, 2024
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Sub: Grant of Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners — Revised rate effective from 01.01.2024-reg
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM No. 42/04/2023-P&PW(D) dated 27.10.2023 on the subject mentioned above and to state that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Relief admissible to Central Government Pensioners/Family Pensioners shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 46% to 50% of the basic pension/family pension (including additional pension/family pension) w.e.f 01st Jan uary,2024.
2. These rates of DR will be applicable to the following categories:-
(i) Civilian Central Government Pensioners/Family Pensioners including Central Govt. absorbee pensioners in PSU/Autonomous Bodies in respect of whom orders have been issued vide this Department’s OM No.4/34/2002-P&PW(D)Vol.II dated 23.06.2017 for restoration of full pension after expiry of commutation period of 15 years.
(ii) The Armed Forces Pensioners/Family Pensioners and Civilian Pensioners/Family Pensioners paid out of the Defence Service Estimates.
(iii) All India Service Pensioners/Family Pensioners.
(iv) Railway Pensioners/Family Pensioners.
(v) Pensioners who are in receipt of provisional pension.
(vi) The Burma Civilian Pensioners/Family Pensioners and Pensioners/families of displaced Government Pensioners from Burma/ Pakistan, in respect of whom orders have been issued vide this Department’s OM No. 23/3/2008-P&PW(B) dated 11.09.2017.
3. The payment of Dearness Relief involving a fraction of a rupee shall be rounded off to the next higher rupee.
4. The payment of arrears of Dearness Relief shall not be made before the date of disbursement of pension/family pension of March, 2024.
5. Other provisions governing grant of DR in respect of employed family pensioners and reemployed Central Government Pensioners will be regulated in accordance with the provisions contained in Rule 52 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 and this Department’s OM No. 45/73/97-P&PW (G) dated 2.7.1999 as amended from time to time. The provisions relating to regulation of DR where a pensioner is in receipt of more than one pension will remain unchanged.
6. In the case of retired Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, necessary orders will be issued by the Department of Justice separately.
7. It will be the responsibility of the pension disbursing authorities, including the nationalized banks, etc. to calculate the quantum of DR payable in each individual case.
8. The offices of Accountant General and authorised Pension Disbursing Banks are requested to arrange payment of Dearness Relief to Pensioners/Family Pensioners on the basis of these instructions without waiting for any further instructions from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Reserve Bank of India in view of letter No. 528-TA, 11/34-80-11 dated 23/04/1981 of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India addressed to all Accountant Generals and Reserve Bank of India Circular No. GANB No. 2958/GA-64 (ii) (CGL)/81 dated the 21st May, 1981 addressed to State Bank of India and its subsidiaries and all Nationalised Banks.
9. In so far as the persons serving in Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders are issued in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, as mandated under Article 148(5) of the Constitution of India.
10. This issues in accordance with the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure’s OM No. 1/1/2024-E-II (B) dated 12.03.2024.
Hindi version will follow.
(Ravinder Kumar)
Director
1. All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India
2 Chief Secretaries and AGs of all States/UTs.
3. CMDs/CPPCs of all authorised Pension Disbursing Banks
4. C&AG of India, UPSC, etc. as per standard endorsement list.
5. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for Information.
