New Delhi – Union Minister for Pensions Jitendra Singh has announced new rules that will help childless widows. They will now be allowed to remarry while still receiving their deceased husband’s pension or family pension, as long as their income from other sources is less than the pension amount.
Singh shared this news during the 34th meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) and emphasized the government’s commitment to making positive changes, especially for women.
Singh criticized past governments for sticking to old ways and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting these new reforms. The goal is to empower women and provide them with better financial security.
In addition to the changes for widows, Singh mentioned other important reforms. Divorced or separated daughters can now claim family pensions without waiting for court decisions. Also, female pensioners can now choose to nominate their children for pensions instead of their husbands in cases of marital problems or domestic violence. This gives women more control over their finances.
The government is also using digital technology to make things easier for pensioners. The Jeevan Pramaan Digital Life Certificate now uses face recognition to verify identities. In a campaign launched in November 2024, 1.5 crore life certificates were generated, with 8 lakh submitted by senior citizens aged 80 and above.
Additionally, the Bhavishya portal has been updated to connect pension processing with health schemes like the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), ensuring that retirees receive their health cards on time. The Integrated Pensioners’ Portal is now linked with major banks like SBI, PNB, and Canara Bank for smooth pension payments.
Singh also highlighted the Pension Adalat initiative, which has resolved over 70 percent of complaints since it started in 2017. The CPENGRAMS system has handled more than one lakh pension-related issues, focusing especially on Defence pensioners.
The SCOVA meeting, which included senior officials and representatives from pensioners’ groups, also reviewed the National Anubhav Awards and pre-retirement counseling workshops. These programs have helped over 10,000 retiring personnel learn about financial security and opportunities after retirement.
