DoPT Extends Family Pension Rules Allowing Women In All India Services To Nominate Children Instead Of Husband

Female government employees in the All India Services can now nominate their children for family pensions instead of their husbands. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has extended the family pension rule where children can get precedence over their father in getting family pension, if their mother nominates the children.

For the All India Services, like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), and the Indian Police Service (IPS), Rule 22 of All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958 applies. According to it, "If a deceased member of service or pensioner is survived by a spouse, family pension is first granted to the spouse, and the children and other family members become eligible for family pension, on their turn, only after the spouse of the deceased member of service/pensioner becomes ineligible for family pension or dies”.

Family Pension:

A family pension is granted to the beneficiary after the death of the employee. Notably, the amendment in the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, in 2024 allowed a female government employee to nominate children (son and daughter) for family pension. The aim was to benefit those stuck in marital discord, wherein the family dispute cases are pending in courts under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Dowry Prohibition Act, etc.

What Does The Order Say?

On March 28, 2025, DoPT issued an order (no. 25014/01/2024-AIS-II(Pension)) regarding it, according to which, “In pursuance of Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DOP&PW) vide O.M. No.1/1(1)/2023-P&PW(E) dated 01.01.2024 (copy enclosed), it has been decided that in case divorce proceedings in respect of a female member of service/female pensioner are pending in a Court of Law, or the female member of service/female pensioner has filed a case against her husband under Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act or under Dowry Prohibition Act or Indian Penal Code, such female member of service/female pensioner may make a request for grant of family pension after her death to her eligible child/children, in precedence to her husband”.

The order clarifies that the provisions in the order have already been allowed by the DOP&PW in January 2024, but now through this order, DoPT extends the same provisions to the female employees of the All India Services. The order reads, ‘The provisions of the aforementioned O.M. dated 01.01.2024 of Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare’ are hereby extended mutatis mutandis to members of All India Services”.

In an order dated January 1, 2024, the DoPPW permitted female government employees to nominate their children for family pension if they are going through a family dispute in a court of law.

Now this change has been extended to female employees of All India Services as well.