Date: 2026-06-16Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Modi Govt's 12 years of governance, pension reforms reaching wider sections of employees and pensioners in J&K following UT Transition: Dr Jitendra Singh
**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 59th Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshop and 13th Bankers’ Awareness Programme in Srinagar on June 16, 2026. The event highlighted the extension of central pension reforms to Jammu & Kashmir following its transition to a Union Territory, marked by a new MoU between the DoPPW and J&K Bank. Key focus areas include the digitization of pension processes and the launch of the Anubhav Scheme 2026 to recognize retiree contributions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Regional Transition and Collaboration**
* The transition of Jammu & Kashmir to a Union Territory has successfully integrated regional employees into the Central Government framework.
* J&K Central Pensioners’ Associations have been recognized as vital partners in resolving initial service-delivery challenges through practical suggestions.
* A formal MoU was signed between the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) and J&K Bank to expand pension-related services and improve accessibility across the UT.
**Digital Initiatives and Innovation**
* **Bhavishya Platform:** Enables end-to-end digitization of pension processing to ensure transparency and efficiency.
* **DigiLocker Integration:** Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) are now integrated with DigiLocker, providing retirees with seamless, paperless access to documents.
* **Face Authentication Technology:** This allows pensioners to submit Digital Life Certificates (DLCs) from home via mobile phones; over 1.16 crore DLCs were generated through this technology by November 2025.
**Grievance Redressal and Social Security**
* Pension-related grievance resolution has been accelerated through CPENGRAMS and the organization of National Pension Adalats.
* Recent reforms have strengthened the social security architecture concerning family pensions, additional pensions, and retirement benefits for missing employees.
**Retiree Engagement and Recognition**
* **Anubhav Platform:** A digital space for retiring employees to share institutional memory, best practices, and experiences.
* **Anubhav Scheme 2026:** Launched to formally recognize the exemplary contributions made by retiring government servants.
* **Pre-Retirement Workshops:** Designed to help employees prepare for a productive post-retirement life and remain active participants in the "Viksit Bharat @ 2047" national mission.
**Impact Analysis**
**Pensioners in Jammu & Kashmir**
**Impact**
They now benefit from central pension reforms, enhanced "ease of living," and simplified digital access to pension services and documentation.
**Action Required**
Adopt digital tools such as Face Authentication for life certificates and utilize DigiLocker for managing pension documents.
**Retiring Government Employees**
**Impact**
Retirees gain access to structured counseling for post-retirement life and opportunities to have their career contributions recognized nationally.
**Action Required**
Participate in Pre-Retirement Counselling (PRC) workshops and submit experiences/innovations to the Anubhav platform.
**J&K Bank and Financial Institutions**
**Impact**
The bank assumes a larger role as a service delivery partner for the Central Government, requiring updated awareness of pension rules and digital processing.
**Action Required**
Implement the provisions of the MoU with DoPPW and participate in Bankers’ Awareness Programmes to ensure efficient service delivery.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW): The primary central government department responsible for implementing pension reforms and organizing welfare programs.
Jammu & Kashmir (Union Territory): The specific region undergoing transition where state employees are being integrated into the Central Government pension framework.
Bhavishya platform: An end-to-end digitized portal for pension processing and the issuance of Pension Payment Orders integrated with DigiLocker.
Digital Life Certificates: A reform initiative utilizing Face Authentication Technology to allow pensioners to submit life certificates remotely.
Anubhav Scheme: A platform and initiative launched to recognize the contributions of retiring government employees and preserve institutional memory.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Modi Govt's 12 years of governance, pension
reforms reaching wider sections of employees
and pensioners in J&K following UT Transition: Dr
Jitendra Singh
J&K Central Pensioners’ Associations playing a constructive
role in facilitating smooth functioning of Central Government
framework, Says Dr Jitednra Singh
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Inaugurates 59th Pre-
Retirement Counselling Workshop and 13th Bankers’
Awareness Programme in Srinagar
DoPPW and J&K Bank sign MoU to expand pension-related
services in the Union Territory
Posted On: 16 JUN 2026 4:55PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO,
Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today said that the
governance and pension reforms initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 12 years are
reaching a wider section of employees and pensioners in Jammu & Kashmir following the transition of the
erstwhile State into a Union Territory.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the reorganisation of Jammu & Kashmir led to a significant increase in the
number of Central Government employees in the region, bringing with it certain initial workload and
service-delivery challenges. These challenges, he said, have been progressively resolved through
coordinated efforts of the Government and associated institutions, enabling employees and pensioners
across the Union Territory to derive the benefits of the pension reforms introduced during the last ten
years.
Dr. Jitendra Singh made a special mention of the role played by the Jammu & Kashmir Central
Pensioners’ Associations, saying they have emerged as valuable partners in this transition. He said the
Associations have not only extended full cooperation but have consistently brought issues to the notice of
the Government along with practical suggestions for their resolution. Their constructive engagement, he
said, has helped facilitate the transition of erstwhile State employees into the Central Government
framework and contributed to the effective implementation of pension reforms across Jammu & Kashmir.The Minister said that as a result, pensioners and employees in Jammu & Kashmir are now increasingly
benefiting from a series of citizen-centric initiatives launched under the leadership of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, reflecting the wider reach of pension reforms that have transformed the pension
administration landscape across the country over the last decade.
Addressing the 59th Pre-Retirement Counselling (PRC) Workshop and 13th Bankers’ Awareness
Programme organised by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) at the Sher-i-
Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Srinagar, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the Government
has fundamentally changed the approach towards pensioners by placing their welfare, dignity and ease of
living at the centre of policy making.
The programme was attended by Ms. Nivedita Shukla Verma, Secretary, Department of Pension &
Pensioners’ Welfare; Shri Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary, UT of Jammu & Kashmir; Shri Amitava
Chatterjee, MD & CEO, J&K Bank; and Shri Dhrubajyoti Sengupta, Joint Secretary (Pension), besides
senior officers, bankers and employees approaching superannuation.
On the occasion, the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare and Jammu & Kashmir Bank launched
a collaborative initiative aimed at expanding pension-related services and improving accessibility for
pensioners across the Union Territory. Dr. Jitendra Singh said the partnership would further strengthen
service delivery mechanisms and enable a larger number of pensioners in Jammu & Kashmir to access the
benefits of ongoing pension reforms with greater convenience.
The Minister said that one of the defining features of the last decade has been the transformation of the
Department from being viewed primarily as a pension-processing institution to a department genuinely
committed to Pensioners’ Welfare. He said the emphasis today is not merely on issuing Pension Payment
Orders but on ensuring dignity, security, convenience and ease of living for pensioners and senior citizens.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Bhavishya platform has brought about a major change in pension
administration by enabling end-to-end digitisation of pension processing. Pension Payment Orders are
now integrated with DigiLocker, ensuring seamless, paperless and transparent access to pension
documents for retirees.
Referring to one of the most successful reforms introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
governance agenda, the Minister said the introduction of Digital Life Certificates through Face
Authentication Technology has transformed the lives of pensioners by allowing them to submit life
certificates from their homes using mobile phones. He said the initiative has significantly enhanced ease
of living for senior citizens and reduced their dependence on physical visits to banks and offices.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the nationwide Digital Life Certificate campaign conducted in November 2025
witnessed unprecedented participation, with over 1.91 crore Digital Life Certificates generated across the
country, including more than 1.16 crore through Face Authentication Technology, demonstrating the
growing acceptance of digital governance among pensioners.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Government has also strengthened grievance redressal through CPENGRAMS,
thematic review mechanisms and National Pension Adalats, enabling faster resolution of pension-related
grievances. Reforms relating to family pension, additional pension, retirement benefits and cases
involving missing employees have further strengthened the social security architecture for pensioners and
their families, he added.
The Minister said that the Government has consistently worked to preserve institutional memory and
encourage continued engagement of retiring employees through the Anubhav platform. He said retiring
employees are encouraged to share their experiences, innovations and best practices, creating a valuablerepository of knowledge for future generations of public servants. He also welcomed the launch of the
Anubhav Scheme 2026, aimed at recognising exemplary contributions made by retiring government
employees.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the increasing number of pensioners in India reflects rising life expectancy and
improving quality of life. Employees retiring from Government service today possess immense
experience, expertise and institutional knowledge, making them valuable contributors to society even after
retirement.
The Minister said the objective of Pre-Retirement Counselling Workshops is not only to familiarise
employees with pension procedures and retirement benefits but also to help them prepare for a meaningful
and productive post-retirement life. Such initiatives ensure that the experience and expertise accumulated
by retiring employees continue to contribute to society and national development.
Calling upon retiring employees to remain active participants in India’s development journey, Dr. Jitendra
Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly emphasised that every citizen has a role in the
making of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. Senior citizens and pensioners, with their vast experience and wisdom,
have an equally important role in this national mission, he added.*****
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