📰 Counting of Leave Periods under CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 – Latest Clarification from DoPPW
The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW), under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, has recently issued an Office Memorandum (OM No. 28/04/2024-P&PW(i)/QS/10145) dated 29th October 2025. This OM provides a detailed clarification regarding how periods of leave are to be counted for pension purposes under the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021.
This latest clarification replaces earlier provisions under the old CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, ensuring that government servants and departments maintain transparency and uniformity in recording qualifying service for pension calculations.
🔍 Key Highlights of the Office Memorandum
1. Applicability under CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021
The instructions apply as per Rule 21 of the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021, which deals with the counting of service for pension purposes. It also refers to an earlier OM issued by the department vide No. 28/90/2022 P&PW(B)/8297 dated 2nd October 2022.
2. Extraordinary Leave (EOL) and Its Treatment
The memorandum clarifies that:
- Extraordinary Leave (EOL) — other than those granted on medical grounds or allowed to be counted as qualifying service under the proviso to Rule 21 — shall not be treated as qualifying service for pension purposes.
- When such EOL is granted, a clear entry must be made in the service book of the government servant stating that the period of leave will not count as qualifying service.
- If this entry is not made at the time of granting leave, it can be added later, but not later than six months before retirement on superannuation.
👉 Important Note:
If no such entry is made in the service book within the stipulated time, the period of extraordinary leave will automatically be treated as qualifying service for pension calculation.
3. Implementation by Ministries and Departments
The DoPPW has directed all Ministries, Departments, and attached/subordinate offices to bring these provisions to the attention of all personnel responsible for handling pensionary benefits. Strict compliance has been emphasized to avoid discrepancies in pension calculations at the time of retirement.
🧾 What This Means for Government Employees
This OM is particularly significant for Central Government employees nearing retirement or those who have taken extraordinary leave during their service.
- Proper record maintenance in the service book is essential.
- Employees should ensure that entries related to EOL are correctly reflected and verified well before retirement.
- In the absence of a proper entry, the leave period may still count as qualifying service, which could affect pension benefits calculation.
🏛️ Background: Transition from 1972 to 2021 Rules
The Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021 came into force replacing the long-standing 1972 Rules. The new rules aim to simplify and modernize the pension framework, aligning it with digital service records and transparent governance practices.
This latest OM ensures consistency in the interpretation of Rule 21, removing ambiguity about how different types of leave — especially extraordinary leave — impact pension eligibility.
📘 Conclusion
The Department’s latest clarification reinforces the importance of accurate service record management. Ministries and employees alike should ensure that entries concerning extraordinary leave are timely, accurate, and in compliance with the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 to safeguard pension entitlements.
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