The Centre has made it clear that once a pension or family pension is authorised or revised under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, it cannot be reduced to the disadvantage of the pensioner, except in cases where a clerical error is detected.
In its latest office memorandum (OM), the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) clarified that revisions causing any reduction in the pension amount can only be made if the error identified is clerical in nature — and not due to policy interpretation or procedural review.
Even then, if such a clerical error is discovered more than two years after the pension was authorised or revised, it cannot be corrected without prior approval from the DoPPW.
The new clarification gives ministries and departments the authority to decide whether a correction is needed, based on the nature of the clerical mistake. This ensures that genuine administrative oversights can be rectified while protecting pensioners from arbitrary or unfair reductions.
The OM further explained that in cases where corrections lead to excess payments being identified, the department of expenditure will decide whether recovery of the excess amount can be waived.
However, if the overpayment was made because of misrepresentation of facts by the pensioner or family pensioner, the concerned department will have the right to initiate an investigation or further action.
If the government decides not to waive the excess payment, pensioners will be required to refund the amount within two months. Failing to do so will lead to deductions from future pension payments, either in full or through instalments.
This mechanism is intended to maintain transparency and accountability in pension administration while ensuring fairness to retired employees and their families.
The clarification provides long-term reassurance to pensioners, many of whom have raised concerns about unexpected deductions after pension revisions. The move aligns with the government’s broader effort to streamline pension management and uphold the financial security of retirees.
By setting clear timelines and procedures for revising pensions, the DoPPW aims to strike a balance between administrative accuracy and the welfare of pensioners — ensuring that technical errors don’t translate into financial stress for those depending on post-retirement income.
