The All-India RBI OERS Pensioners Forum (AIRBIOPF) has been actively pushing for enhanced pension for RBI Pensioners who are 80 years old and above. On January 19, 2025, we submitted a comprehensive request to the Hon’ble Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman Ji, seeking her assistance. The Finance Minister’s office confirmed receipt of the email on January 21, 2025, and mentioned that it was sent to the relevant department for further action. Since then, there has been no response from any party.

Enhanced Pension Follow up

Since our demand for an Enhanced Pension for RBI Pensioners aged 80 and above remains unresolved despite multiple representations to the concerned authorities, we find it appropriate to follow up with them.

We have once again reached out to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, and Governor to address this issue promptly. Additionally, we have informed Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State for Pensions, who is responsible for handling pension-related grievances for the government. Recently, Dr. Singh has appropriately recognized the specific difficulties faced by elderly pensioners (aged 80 and above). His remarks emphasize the government’s dedication to supporting their welfare. This acknowledgment is particularly important for RBI pensioners, who are experiencing similar challenges as those in government positions.

Need for Enhanced Pension

Retirement should be a period of peace and security, a time to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor. However, for the RBI pensioners aged 80 and above , this is not the reality. Escalating medical costs, the need for constant care, and the diminishing physical and financial resources make their golden years a period of struggle.

Our request is simple and just: to extend the same enhanced pension benefits provided to Central Government pensioners to RBI Pensioners . The core issues faced by these elderly individuals are identical. The RBI’s pension regulations are based on the Central Civil Services (CCS) rules, highlighting the parity in their circumstances.

We proposed enhanced pension rates, mirroring the government’s approach:

80 to less than 85 years: 20% of the basic pension/compassionate allowance
85 to less than 90 years: 30% of the basic pension/compassionate allowance
90 to less than 95 years: 40% of the basic pension/compassionate allowance
95 to less than 100 years: 50% of the basic pension/compassionate allowance
100 years or more: 100% of the basic pension/compassionate allowance

Government Pensioners vs RBI Pensioners-Disparity

The recent announcement of the 8th Pay Commission for Government employees has further highlighted the disparity in treatment between RBI retirees and their counterparts in government service. This disparity is particularly concerning for super senior citizens who face increasing healthcare costs and other age-related challenges.

We urge all RBI retirees to join us and Please share this blog post, and support the efforts to ensure that our golden years are filled with dignity and security.