Dr. Jitendra Singh Announces Major Pension Reforms Empowering Women and Senior Citizens

Speaking at the 34th meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA), Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted several policy changes designed to reflect evolving societal norms.

In a groundbreaking move aimed at enhancing pension benefits and streamlining welfare measures, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh, announced a series of reforms benefiting pensioners, especially women.

Speaking at the 34th meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA), Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted several policy changes designed to reflect evolving societal norms. He underscored that these transformative measures have been possible due to the resolute support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Key Reforms Announced:

1. Family Pension for Childless Widows Post-Remarriage

A significant reform ensures that childless widows can continue receiving family pensions even after remarriage, provided their income from other sources is lower than the minimum family pension.

2. Family Pension for Divorced or Separated Daughters

Another progressive decision enables divorced or separated daughters to claim a family pension without awaiting the court's final divorce verdict. If divorce proceedings were initiated during their parent’s lifetime, they are eligible for a pension after the parent’s demise.

3. Women Pensioners Can Prioritize Their Children Over Husbands in Pension Nomination

In a landmark reform, women pensioners can now nominate their children for family pensions over their husbands in cases of marital discord, including situations involving divorce proceedings or cases filed under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act or Dowry Prohibition Act.

Technological Advancements and Digital Initiatives

Dr. Jitendra Singh also emphasized the government’s commitment to digitizing pension processes for efficiency and ease of access:

• Jeevan Pramaan Digital Life Certificate: First launched in 2014, the initiative has been further enhanced with face authentication technology, allowing pensioners to submit life certificates remotely. A nationwide campaign in November 2024 resulted in the successful submission of 1.5 crore life certificates, including 8 lakh from senior citizens aged 80 and above.

• Bhavishya Portal Integration: The Bhavishya portal now integrates pension processing with the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), ensuring that retirees receive their health cards at retirement without delays.

• Integrated Pensioners' Portal: This platform now collaborates with major banks, including SBI, PNB, and Canara Bank, for seamless pension disbursement.

Pension Adalat and Grievance Redressal

Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the success of the Pension Adalat initiative, which has resolved over 70% of grievances across 12 editions since its launch in 2017. The most recent Pension Adalat in February 2025 successfully settled 490 out of 531 cases on the spot. Additionally, the CPENGRAMS grievance redressal system has efficiently handled over one lakh pension-related complaints, focusing on the concerns of Defence pensioners.

Recognizing Contributions and Preparing for Retirement

• National Anubhav Awards: These awards, now extended to include Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) and Public Sector Banks, recognize valuable contributions from retirees.
• Pre-Retirement Counseling Workshops: Over 10,000 retiring employees have benefitted from workshops aimed at educating them about financial security and post-retirement opportunities.

Commitment to Senior Citizens’ Welfare

Dr. Jitendra Singh reaffirmed the government’s dedication to eliminating outdated rules and addressing pensioners’ concerns efficiently. He assured that policies causing inconvenience would be reviewed and revised to minimize bureaucratic hurdles and improve the quality of life for senior citizens.

The SCOVA meeting was attended by Secretary, DoPPW, Sri V. Srinivas, along with senior ministry officials and representatives of pensioners' associations, who actively engaged in discussions on key policy initiatives and welfare measures.

These reforms mark a significant step toward ensuring financial security, dignity, and ease of living for pensioners, particularly women and senior citizens.