The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) has issued new guidelines requiring central government employees to verify their service records before retirement. As per these guidelines, employees who have completed 18 years of service and have five years left until retirement must undergo regular verification of their qualifying service.
Purpose and Process of Verification
The Office Memorandum, issued by the DoPPW under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, specifies that this verification process will help confirm the accuracy of essential service records well before an employee’s retirement. As part of the process, the head of the office, in consultation with the accounts officer, will verify the employee’s service records according to current rules. Employees will receive a formal certificate of their qualifying service in the designated Form 4.
Compliance Under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021
The guidelines mandate this verification process under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, ensuring completion of verification at least five years before retirement. Additionally, a report detailing the qualifying service status for eligible employees must be submitted by January 31 each year to the secretary of the respective administrative ministry or department.
Aim of the Directive
These new measures are intended to streamline the verification process and ensure employees have accurate information about their qualifying service status before retirement. Ministries and departments are encouraged to strictly adhere to these requirements, ensuring timely issuance of qualifying service certificates.
Applicability to Employees Under the National Pension System (NPS)
The verification checks also apply to government employees under the National Pension System (NPS) as per Rule 21 of the CCS (Payment of Gratuity under NPS) Rules, 2021. Despite previous notices, there have been cases where required certificates were not issued to employees. Ministries and departments are therefore urged to promptly address this issue and ensure compliance with the new instructions.