News Desk
15 November 2025, 07:52 PM IST
A viral message has left pensioners confused about DA and Pay Commission benefits — prompting a PIB Fact Check.
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A message circulating widely on WhatsApp has sparked concern among Central Government pensioners, claiming that post-retirement benefits like Dearness Allowance (DA) hikes and Pay Commission revisions have been scrapped under the Finance Act, 2025. However, the PIB Fact Check team has clarified that this claim is false.
The misinformation also incorrectly uses the term “DA” for pensioners. While active government employees receive Dearness Allowance, retired employees are entitled to Dearness Relief (DR).
The PIB Fact Check team tweeted: “A message circulating on #WhatsApp claims that the Central Government has withdrawn post-retirement benefits like DA hikes and Pay Commission revisions for retired employees under the Finance Act 2025. The PIB Fact Check team confirms that this claim is fake.”
Clarifying further, the team noted that the amendment to Rule 37 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, only affects PSU employees who are dismissed for misconduct after absorption. This does not impact all central government pensioners.
Understanding Dearness Relief (DR)
DR is the pension equivalent of DA and is calculated to offset inflation. It is declared twice a year, typically in March and September. For the months of January and February, DR is computed based on the rates from December of the preceding year.
Amended Rule 37 (29C) for PSU Employees
The updated Rule 37(29C) states: “…the dismissal or removal from service of the public sector undertaking of any employee after his absorption in such undertaking for any subsequent misconduct shall lead to the forfeiture of the retirement benefits for the service rendered under the Government also and in the event of his dismissal or removal or retrenchment, the decision of the undertaking shall be subject to review by the Ministry administratively concerned with the undertaking.
For the purpose of this Rule, the relevant provisions of Rule 7 and 8 read with Rule 41 and Rule 44(5)(a) and (b) would be analogous as is applicable to a Government servant under these Rules.”
This amendment is limited to PSU employees and does not affect the general population of Central Government pensioners.
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