A viral WhatsApp message claiming that retired Central government employees would no longer be eligible for dearness allowance (DA) hikes or Pay Commission benefits under the Finance Act, 2025 has been dismissed as false by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
In a clarification issued through its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, PIB Fact Check stated that the Government of India has taken no such decision and that the circulating message contains misleading information. The clarification came after the message triggered widespread concern among pensioners, many of whom feared a rollback of long-standing post-retirement benefits.
According to PIB, there has been no change in policy regarding DA revisions or Pay Commission-related benefits for retired Central government employees. Existing practices for pension calculation and periodic DA increases remain unchanged.
The viral message had also referenced Supreme Court judgments, suggesting that revised rules had nullified pension privileges for senior citizens. PIB clarified that this interpretation is incorrect. The rule being cited applies only to a specific category of former public servants—those who were absorbed into public sector undertakings (PSUs) and were later dismissed or removed from service for misconduct after absorption.
In such cases, pensions earned for prior government service may be forfeited. However, this provision does not apply to the wider pool of retired Central government employees and does not affect routine DA hikes or Pay Commission benefits.
PIB reiterated that pensioners should rely only on official government notifications and verified sources, cautioning against unverified messages that may cause unnecessary alarm.
