Context:
∙ The Centre has amended the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules of 2021.
About the amended rules
∙ Rule 50 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021 allows the grant of family pension following the death of a government servant or retired government servant.
∙ The amendment was formulated by The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) in consultation with the Ministry of Women and Child Development taking into consideration representations received.
∙ It allows women government employees and pensioners to nominate their children for receiving family pension over their spouse, if at the time of their death, any proceedings for divorce, domestic violence, or dowry demands happen to be pending against the said spouse.
∙ Till now, the rules provided for the family pension to first go to the surviving spouse and the children became eligible to receive it only after the death of the spouse.
Purpose:
∙ Several women officials and pensioners were asking if it was possible to nominate children before the spouse in cases where divorce proceedings are under way or domestic violence cases are pending against the spouse.
∙ This amendment is progressive in nature and would empower women employees/pensioners significantly.”
