Railway Board (Finance Establishment)
RBE No. 07/2026
Railway Services (Pension) Rules 2026
Railway Pension Rules 2026: RBE 07/2026 Notification & Retrospective Benefits (Rule 65)
- Status: Gazetted & Notified
- Authority: Railway Board (Finance)
- Ref No: RBE No. 07/2026 (No. D-43/9/2022-F(E)III)
- Key Impact: Interest on Delayed Gratuity (Retrospective)
What Changed: The New “Pension Bible”
The Railway Board has officially superseded previous regulations by notifying the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 2026 via RBE No. 07/2026 dated January 20, 2026. This massive update aligns Railway Pension rules with the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021. The most critical aspect is the Retrospective Effect given to Rules 31, 32, and 65, which will apply from December 20, 2021, ensuring parity with other Central Govt employees.
✅ Official Orders Issued
Authority: Railway Board (Order No. RBE 07/2026)
Subject: Notification of Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 23(E)).
Effective Date: 20.01.2026 (Specific Rules from 20.12.2021).
The New Protocol: Retrospective Benefits
The Explanatory Memorandum attached to the circular confirms that specific benefits regarding deputation and interest on delayed payments are now applicable to those who retired in the last 4 years.
✔ Key Retrospective Rules (From 20.12.2021)
- Rule 65 (Interest on Delay): If Gratuity or Pension is delayed due to administrative reasons, the Railway is liable to pay interest (GPF Rates) automatically.
- Rule 31 & 32 (Deputation): Covers benefits for Railway servants who were on deputation at the time of retirement.
✖ Procedural Changes
- Format 8: Undertaking to the Bank has been revised.
- Police Report: Simplified requirements for Family Pension in case of missing Railway servants.
Impact Analysis: Delayed Gratuity Interest
If you retired after Dec 20, 2021, and received your DCRG (Gratuity) late without any fault of your own, you can now claim interest under Rule 65.
| Scenario | Old Outcome | New Rule 65 Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuity Paid 6 Months Late | No Interest (Often ignored) | Mandatory Interest (GPF Rate) |
| Retirement on Deputation | Complex Clearance | Streamlined (Rule 31/32) |
| Missing Employee (Family Pension) | Lengthy Court Process | Police Report Basis |
How to Respond (Claiming Interest on Arrears)
If you are a recent retiree (post-Dec 2021) who faced delays in settlement, use this draft to write to your DRM/Personnel Officer citing the new RBE.
“To,
The Sr. Divisional Personnel Officer,
[Your Division/Zone].Subject: Claim for Interest on delayed payment of Gratuity under Rule 65 of Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 2026.
Respected Sir,
I retired from service on [Date e.g., 31.03.2022]. My DCRG (Gratuity) was paid to me on [Date e.g., 30.09.2022], after a delay of 6 months.
Ref: RBE No. 07/2026 dated 20.01.2026 clearly states that Rule 65 (Interest on delayed payment) has retrospective effect from 20.12.2021.Since the delay was administrative and not due to any fault on my part, I request you to sanction the interest on the delayed Gratuity amount at applicable GPF rates.
Yours faithfully,
[Name]
PPO No: [Your PPO Number]”
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to NPS Employees?
No. The Railway Services (Pension) Rules generally govern employees under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). NPS employees are governed by specific NPS regulations, though Gratuity rules often overlap.
What is the retrospective date for Rule 65?
As per the Explanatory Memorandum in RBE 07/2026, Rules 31, 32, and 65 are effective retrospectively from December 20, 2021. This ensures parity with the CCS (Pension) Rules 2021.