Family pension for divorced daughters: Govt clarifies rules

The Government has clarified in the Lok Sabha that unmarried, widowed, or divorced daughters can receive family pension beyond 25 years of age, subject to specific conditions under the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021 and a follow‑up Office Memorandum dated 26.10.2022

In a written reply to Unstarred Question No. 4550 on 20 August 2025, the Minister of State (Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions / PMO), Dr. Jitendra Singh, outlined the norms that ensure an eligible daughter receives family pension “on her turn.” The same provisions apply, under separate rules, to Railway and Defence employees and pensioners.

Who can get family pension—and when?

Eligible categories

Family pension shall be granted/continued to an unmarried, widowed, or divorced daughter (beyond 25 years of age) for life or until she:

marries/remarries, or
starts earning her livelihood—
whichever is earlier.

Dependency and order of entitlement

This benefit arises when:

The deceased Government employee/pensioner is not survived by a spouse or a son/daughter who is otherwise eligible; or
Such relatives die or cease to meet eligibility conditions; and
There is no disabled child eligible for family pension.
Additionally, the unmarried/widowed/divorced daughter must have been dependent on her parent(s) when they were alive.

Clarification on divorce and timing

For a divorced daughter to be eligible:

The divorce must have occurred, or divorce proceedings must have been filed in a competent court, during the lifetime of the Government servant/pensioner or his/her spouse.

Implication: Cases where a daughter gets divorced only after the death of both parents are not covered by this eligibility condition.

Clarification on widowhood

For a widowed daughter, the death of her husband (establishing widowhood) is a qualifying condition, alongside the other general conditions above.

Does this apply to retirees as well?

Yes. The reply references the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 and the 26.10.2022 OM, which govern employees and pensioners covered under these rules—meaning the framework applies post‑retirement too, subject to the same timing and dependency conditions.