The amendments to the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules*,

 🚨 *The amendments to the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules*, introduced by the government as part of the Finance Bill 2025, were passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday despite opposition protests. These amendments aim to revise pension rules, particularly in relation to the implementation of Pay Commission recommendations. Here are the key aspects of these amendments:

1. Pay Commission Benefits: *The amendments clarify that Pay Commission benefits will only apply prospectively, meaning they will be available to pensioners who retire after the implementation date of the Pay Commission's recommendations.* Pensioners who retired before this date will not receive these revised benefits.

2. Government Authority: *The government will have the discretion to decide when to implement Pay Commission recommendations, allowing them to determine the eligibility criteria for pensioners.*

3. Opposition Protests: The opposition staged a walkout during the proceedings, criticizing the move as unfair to existing pensioners. They argued that this amendment deprives millions of pensioners of their rightful benefits through what they termed "backdoor legislation".

4. Legal Context: The Supreme Court has previously ruled against discrimination among pensioners based on their retirement dates. However, the government's amendments aim to override this by categorizing pensioners based on when they retired, similar to past practices like those under the Sixth Pay Commission.

The amendments to the Finance Bill, 2025, proposes significant pension reforms, aiming to validate the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules and reaffirming the government’s authority in determining pension structures after a Supreme Court ruling struck down distinctions between pensioners based on their retirement date. The Bill reinforces that pensions are determined by retirement dates, ensuring new pay commission benefits apply only prospectively.

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