The Ministry of Railways has notified the Railway Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, 2026, introducing provisions covering disability pension and family pension for cases in which a railway employee’s death or disability is linked to railway service.
The rules define the eligibility conditions, pension rates, minimum pension amounts and procedures for handling claims arising from service-related death, injury or disease.
Under the framework, railway employees who become disabled because of qualifying service-related circumstances may receive disability pension. Eligible family members may also receive family pension when the employee’s death has a recognised connection with railway service.
Four categories for death and disability
The new rules divide death and disability cases into four categories based on the circumstances involved.
Category A applies to death or disability resulting from natural causes that have no connection with railway service.
Category B covers diseases caused by prolonged exposure to hostile working conditions, occupational hazards or extreme weather. It also includes accidents occurring during duty where the circumstances do not fall under Categories C or D.
Category C includes specified situations such as terrorist or extremist violence in public places, attacks by fellow railway employees, riots and certain incidents involving natural disasters or extreme weather while employees are performing specified duties.
Category D applies to more serious situations. These include targeted terrorist or extremist attacks, operations against such groups, enemy action during war or border skirmishes, evacuation operations from war-affected countries and certain incidents connected with operational or training activities.
The circumstances listed in the rules are illustrative. This means cases that are not specifically listed may also be considered if they otherwise satisfy the conditions prescribed for disability or family pension.
Disability pension: Two components and Rs 18,000 minimum
For eligible cases falling under Categories B, C and D, disability pension will consist of two parts — the service element and the disability element.
The service element will be calculated in the same manner as a normal pension, at 50 per cent of emoluments or average emoluments, whichever is more beneficial to the employee.
The rules do not impose a minimum qualifying service requirement for receiving the service or disability element when the benefit is otherwise admissible. Therefore, the service element can also be granted where qualifying service is below 10 years. However, service gratuity will not be payable in such cases.
The minimum disability pension under the rules has been fixed at Rs 18,000 per month.
For employees assessed with 100 per cent disability, the disability element will depend on the category. Categories B and C provide a disability element equal to 30 per cent of emoluments or average emoluments, while Category D provides 100 per cent of emoluments or average emoluments.
For disability below 100 per cent, the disability element will be reduced proportionately.
The rules also provide for broad-banding while calculating the disability benefit. Disability assessed up to 50 per cent will be treated as 50 per cent, while disability above 50 per cent and up to 75 per cent will be treated as 75 per cent. Disability above 75 per cent and up to 100 per cent will be treated as 100 per cent, subject to the applicable conditions.
Constant Attendant Allowance for eligible pensioners
Railway pensioners receiving disability pension for 100 per cent disability may also qualify for a Constant Attendant Allowance.
The allowance will apply where a Medical Board determines that the pensioner is completely dependent on another person for daily activities and requires continuous assistance.
The allowance will be paid throughout the pensioner’s lifetime in addition to the monthly disability pension. Its rate will be determined by the government from time to time. However, dearness relief will not be payable on this allowance.
Family pension: Up to 100% of pay
The amount of family pension will depend on the category under which the railway employee’s death is classified.
For Category B cases, family pension will be 60 per cent of pay. For both Category C and Category D, the family pension will be 100 per cent of pay.
The minimum family pension under the rules has been set at Rs 18,000 per month.
The rules also establish an order of priority for family pension. Eligibility broadly begins with the widow or widower, followed by dependent children, including adopted and stepchildren, parents including adoptive parents, and dependent siblings.
Specific conditions relating to age, marital status, income and disability apply depending on the family member seeking the pension.
For instance, a son who is not suffering from a disability is generally required to be unmarried, below 25 years of age and not earning a livelihood. Separate provisions apply to daughters and children with disabilities.
Special provision when a disability pensioner dies
A separate provision applies when a railway employee receiving disability pension later dies.
If the pensioner dies within seven years of being boarded out due to the same injury or disease that resulted in the disability, the family may qualify for family pension under the same category in which the disability pension had been granted.
The applicable pension rate will be the rate that would have been payable if the employee had died while in service because of the same injury or disease.
A Medical Board will determine whether the death was attributable to the same injury or disease.
Pension processing through HRMS and IPAS
The rules provide for disability and family pension cases to be processed through the railway’s online pension-sanctioning systems, including the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) and Integrated Payroll and Accounting System (IPAS), except in cases where an exemption applies.
For disability pension claims, the Head of Office must send the completed case to the Accounts Officer within two months after receiving the required forms. The Accounts Officer is then required to issue the Pension Payment Order (PPO) within one month of receiving the pension case.
The framework also allows provisional pension and gratuity where a final decision on disability pension eligibility is pending or where final authorisation may take additional time. Similar provisions allow provisional pension or provisional family pension, where applicable, until the final authorisation is completed.
No separate application in certain cases
The rules provide that a railway employee or eligible family members do not need to submit a separate application for disability pension or family pension in certain service-related cases where the prescribed conditions are fulfilled.
The Head of Office is responsible for examining the case based on the findings of the Medical Board and taking the required action.
Overall, the Railway Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, 2026 set out specific benefits for railway employees and their families affected by service-related death or disability. The framework includes a minimum disability pension of Rs 18,000 per month, category-based disability benefits, family pension of up to 100 per cent of pay for Categories C and D, and a lifetime Constant Attendant Allowance for eligible pensioners who require continuous assistance.