The rules will apply to railway servants covered by the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 2026.
In the case of railway employees covered by the Railway Services (Implementation of National Pension System) Rules, 2025, family pension, disability pension and constant attendant allowance will be payable in cases of death or discharge from service on grounds of disability if the employee had exercised the relevant option under Rule 10 of the NPS rules.
However, these benefits will not be payable where an employee dies or becomes disabled while on foreign service under a United Nations body and had opted not to pay pension contributions during the deputation and not to count that service as qualifying service.
When will pension apply?
The rules state that disability pension or family pension can be granted where there is a causal connection between the employee’s disability and railway service, or between the employee’s death and railway service.
Disability will be considered attributable to railway service if it results from a wound, injury or disease attributable to service, or if a condition that existed before or arose during service was aggravated by railway service.
Death will similarly be considered connected with railway service if it was caused by, or hastened by, a wound, injury or disease attributable to service, or by the aggravation of such a condition due to railway service.
The employee or family is not required to submit an application for disability or family pension. The Head of Office has to examine the case based on the Medical Board’s findings and submit it to the competent authority within three months of receiving the medical report.
A claim cannot be rejected because of a delay by the Head of Office in submitting the case.
Disability pension and family pension
Disability pension will comprise a service element and a disability element, which will be determined under the rules.
The authority granting the pension will have to examine each case against the guidelines specified in Schedule IV and satisfy itself that the disability or death is attributable to or aggravated by railway service.
The rules also allow the competent authority, with reasons recorded in writing, to grant disability or family pension where a case is not strictly covered by the Schedule IV guidelines but is otherwise considered attributable to railway service.
Disability-related provisions
The rules refer to the protections available under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Where applicable, a railway employee acquiring a disability can continue in service with the same pay scale and service benefits.
If the employee does not withdraw a request for retirement, the case may be processed for disability pension under the rules.
Where an establishment is exempt from the relevant provisions of the Act and an employee is boarded out because of disablement, the employee can be eligible for disability pension. If a Medical Board finds the employee fit for less labour-intensive work, the employee can be offered a lower post, subject to willingness and availability.
An employee retained in service despite disablement can receive lump-sum compensation in lieu of disability pension in accordance with the rules.
Who can sanction the pension?
The power to grant disability or family pension will be exercised by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Railway Board, or by an officer not below the Senior Administrative Grade level to whom the power is delegated.
The authority will have to certify, based on the medical report, Schedule IV guidelines and other relevant documents, that a causal connection exists between the employee’s death or disability and railway service.
The 2026 rules replace the existing framework with the Railway Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, 2026.