DoPPW Issues Fresh Guidelines for Referring Cases on Pension Matters

The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) has issued a new Office Memorandum reiterating and refining the guidelines for referring cases to the Department for advice, clarification, or consultation on pension-related matters.

The circular, dated 24 October 2025 (No. 1/1(51)/2024-P&PW(F)/9852), underscores that DoPPW serves as the nodal department for pension policy matters concerning Central Government employees and that its rules—such as the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021—are largely self-explanatory.

Departments Asked to Examine Cases Thoroughly Before Referral

According to the memorandum, Ministries, Departments, and Offices are required to first examine each case thoroughly in light of the relevant rules and regulations and arrive at a tentative conclusion before seeking DoPPW’s intervention.

The Department noted that many offices continue to refer cases routinely—often without due examination—leading to unnecessary delays and duplication of effort. “Such cases should ideally be resolved at the Ministry or Department level,” the circular stated.

Key Instructions Issued

To streamline the process and ensure timely decision-making, DoPPW has prescribed the following key guidelines:

• Applicability: Only cases falling under rules notified by DoPPW should be referred. Employees of Railways, Defence, PSUs, Banks, Autonomous Bodies, and Statutory Bodies are outside the purview of these rules.
• Initial Scrutiny: The concerned Ministry or Department must thoroughly examine the case with reference to relevant rules and regulations.
• Comprehensive Proposal: When referral is necessary, the proposal should include:
  • Background and internal examination carried out
  • Tentative conclusion reached by the Department
  • Specific rules or provisions on which clarification is sought
  • Details of cases not explicitly covered by existing rules, along with justification for any exceptions
• Official Contact Details: The proposal must clearly mention the name, designation, telephone number, and email ID of the concerned officer.
• Administrative Channel: All references should be sent through the administrative Ministry/Department with the Secretary’s approval and comments, preferably via e-File where functional.

The new OM emphasizes that these measures are intended to avoid delays in decision-making and ensure a uniform stand across all Ministries and Departments handling similar cases.

View OM: