This document summarizes the Indian government's policy, as articulated in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4550, answered on August 20, 2025, regarding family pensions for divorced daughters of government servants. The Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW) has addressed this issue through the Central Civil Service Pension Rules, 2021, and Office Memorandum No. F. No.1112022/PPWE dated October 26, 2022. These provisions ensure that a divorced/widowed daughter of a deceased government employee or pensioner, covered under these rules, is eligible for family pension in their turn. The same provisions are applicable to Railway and Defence employees and pensioners under separate rules.
Specifically, if a deceased government employee or pensioner is not survived by a spouse, son, or daughter eligible for family pension, or if these individuals die or become ineligible, and there is no disabled child eligible, the family pension can be granted or continued to an unmarried, widowed, or divorced daughter beyond the age of twenty-five. This is applicable for life, until marriage/remarriage, or until the daughter begins earning a livelihood, whichever occurs first. Key conditions include the daughter's dependency on her parent(s) during their lifetime. Furthermore, for widowed daughters, the death of the husband must have occurred, and for divorced daughters, the divorce or the filing of divorce proceedings in a competent court must have taken place during the lifetime of the government servant/pensioner or their spouse.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for personnel matters, public grievances, and pensions.
Department of Pension Pensioners Welfare: A department under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, dealing with pension and welfare matters for pensioners.
PRIME MINISTER: The head of the Government of India.
Central Civil Service Pension Rules, 2021: The set of rules governing pension benefits for employees of the Central Civil Service.
Office Memorandum No. F. No.1112022PPWE dated 26.10.2022: An official document issued by the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare regarding pension rules.
Railway: Referring to employees and pensioners of the Indian Railways.
Defence: Referring to employees and pensioners of the Indian Defence forces.
DR. JITENDRA SINGH: Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS’ WELFARE)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4550
(ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025)
FAMILY PENSION TO DIVORCED DAUGHTERS
†4550. SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:
SHRI ALOK SHARMA:
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:
(a) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that a divorced daughter of a Government servant
is eligible to receive family pension;
(b) whether the family pension is admissible in case the daughter gets divorced after the death of
both parents and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether a daughter is eligible to receive family pension if she is widowed or divorced after the
retirement of the Government servant; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES
AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) to (d): Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) has notified the Central
Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021. Various provisions have been incorporated in these rules
and in the Office Memorandum No. F. No.1/1(1)/2022-P&PW(E) dated 26.10.2022 issued
subsequently to ensure that a divorced/widowed daughter of a deceased Government employee
or pensioner covered under these rules gets family pension on her turn. The same provisions as
described hereunder are provided under separate Rules for Railway and Defence employees and
pensioners. In terms of these rules:
Where a deceased Government employee or pensioner is not survived by a spouse or son
or daughter eligible for family pension or if they die or cease to fulfil the eligibility conditions
for family pension prescribed in the above mentioned rules and there is no disabled child eligible
to receive family pension, the family pension shall be granted or continued to be payable to an
unmarried or widowed or divorced daughter beyond the age of twenty-five years for life or until
she gets married or re-married or until she starts earning her livelihood, whichever is the earliest
subject to the conditions like the unmarried or widowed or divorced daughter was dependent on
her parent or parents when he or she or they were alive. Further, in the case of widowed
daughter, death of her husband and in the case of divorced daughter, her divorce took place or
the divorce proceedings filed in a competent court during the lifetime of the Government servant
or pensioner or his or her spouse.
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