The Railway Board has issued RBE No. 07/2026 following the notification of the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 2026. This order clarifies the calculation of “Qualifying Service” for pensionary benefits, specifically addressing the inclusion of training periods, Extraordinary Leave (EOL), and suspension periods.
Note: This order is applicable to all Railway servants covered under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and relevant cases under the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for service calculation.
1. Does Training Period Count for Pension?
Yes, the training period counts as qualifying service.
According to RBE No. 07/2026 and the new Railway Services Pension Rules 2026, service rendered as a trainee before regular appointment in Group ‘C’ or Group ‘D’ posts is treated as qualifying service for pension and gratuity. This applies even if the training was immediately followed by a regular appointment without a break.
- Condition: The training must be in a Railway Training School or approved establishment.
- Impact: This period is added to the total length of service for calculating the retirement gratuity and pension amount.
2. Counting of EOL (Extraordinary Leave)
Confusion often arises regarding “Leave Without Pay” (LWP) or EOL. The new order clarifies that not all EOL periods are excluded, but specific conditions apply.
| Type of EOL | Counts as Service? | Rule Reference |
|---|---|---|
| EOL on Medical Certificate | Yes | Rule 21 (Pension Rules 2026) |
| EOL for Higher Study | Yes | Subject to prior approval |
| EOL due to inability to join | Yes | Discretion of Competent Authority |
| EOL for private affairs | No | Excluded from qualifying service |
If an employee takes EOL for personal reasons without a medical certificate, that specific duration is deducted from the total 6-monthly periods used to calculate pension. Check the Railway Pay Matrix 2026 to see how this impacts your last drawn pay fixations.
3. Suspension and Dismissal Cases
Service calculation during suspension depends entirely on the final outcome of the disciplinary proceeding.
Case A: Fully Exonerated
If the employee is fully exonerated or the suspension is held as “unjustified,” the entire period counts as qualifying service. The employee is entitled to full pay and allowances for this period.
Case B: Penalty Imposed
If a minor or major penalty is imposed, the Competent Authority must specifically order whether the suspension period counts as service. If the order is silent, the period does not count.
For employees seeking transfer, reviewing the Railway Mutual Transfer Rules 2026 is essential, as qualifying service length directly affects seniority and eligibility in the new unit.
Does the training period count for MACP?
No. While the training period counts for Pension and Gratuity under RBE 07/2026, it generally does not count for Financial Upgradation under the MACP scheme, which requires “regular service” from the date of direct entry.
Is EOL deducted from the 10-month average pay?
Yes. If you are on EOL (without medical grounds) during the last 10 months of service, that period is ignored, and the average pay is calculated based on the days actually worked and paid.
हिंदी सारांश: RBE No. 07/2026
रेलवे बोर्ड ने आदेश संख्या 07/2026 के माध्यम से पेंशन के लिए ‘अर्हक सेवा’ (Qualifying Service) की गणना स्पष्ट की है। इसके तहत, नौकरी से पहले की ट्रेनिंग अवधि को पेंशन और ग्रेच्युटी के लिए जोड़ा जाएगा। चिकित्सा कारणों से ली गई EOL (बिना वेतन अवकाश) को सेवा माना जाएगा, लेकिन निजी कारणों से ली गई EOL को पेंशन सेवा से घटा दिया जाएगा। सस्पेंशन की अवधि केवल तभी जुड़ेगी जब कर्मचारी दोषमुक्त हो या सक्षम अधिकारी आदेश दे।
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