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Minutes of the 35th SCOVA Meeting - Full Detailed Report

Minutes of the 35th SCOVA Meeting - Full Detailed Report

F. No.42/11/2023-P&PW(D)/E-9312
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare

Minutes of the 35th SCOVA Meeting

Held on: 10th March, 2026 | Venue: CSOI, K. G. Marg, New Delhi

Opening Remarks and General Progress

The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble MOS (PP). Key introductory points included:

  • Joint Secretary (Pension): Welcomed participants and emphasized that SCOVA serves as a feedback platform for DoPPW policy implementation and allows Pensioners' Welfare Associations (PWAs) to raise issues directly with Ministries.
  • Secretary (Pension): Highlighted the success of the DLC campaign 4.0 in November 2025 and the issuance of guidelines for the timely payment of retirement dues.
  • Pension Mitras: All departments have introduced Pension Mitras to provide handholding support to pensioners.
  • National Pension Adalats: Success was noted in resolving over 74% of grievances on the spot in recent sessions.
  • Hon'ble MoS (PP) Dr. Jitendra Singh: Discussed revolutionary changes for "Ease of Living," including increasing Grant-in-Aid to PWAs and reforms in CGHS such as revised packages and increased referral validity.

Detailed New Agenda Items (Annexure-II)

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (CGHS)

  • Expansion of Facilities: Approval has been granted for 29 new Wellness Centres across various cities including Jamshedpur, Udaipur, and Greater Noida West.
  • Attendance Allowance: CGHS is examining the request for an allowance for pensioners with ailments requiring constant assistance, such as Parkinson's or Dementia.
  • Referral-Free Consultations: Beneficiaries aged 70 and above can now consult specialists at empanelled hospitals without a prior referral.
  • Diagnostic Tests: For tests under ₹3,000, no additional endorsement is needed if prescribed by a treating specialist; referrals are now valid for three months.
  • Claim Settlement: Medical claims are being processed through a revamped Transaction Management System (TMS) 2.0 and can be tracked via the myCGHS 2.0 app.
  • Medicine Supply: Prescribed generic salts remain the same even if manufacturers change; unavailable medicines are arranged through Authorized Local Chemists (ALCs).
  • Home Delivery: The feasibility of home-delivering medicines is currently being examined.

Ministry of Railways

  • LTC Benefits: Decisions regarding extending All India LTC to retired employees rest with DoPT, not the Ministry of Railways.
  • Pension Adalat Appeals: The Ministry noted that creating a separate appellate authority is not necessary as existing mechanisms are sufficient.
  • Fare Concessions: Railways currently provides a 45% average subsidy on passenger tickets; no further restoration of pre-COVID concessions for seniors is currently planned.
  • UMID Integration: PPO data is being pushed to the UMID portal on a weekly or runtime basis for seamless integration.
  • FMA Re-option: Pensioners can already switch between Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) and OPD facilities as per existing board letters.

Banking and Financial Grievances

  • CPPC Ranchi: SBI established a specialized help desk at the Ranchi Branch on 20.02.2026 to resolve queries for pensioners in Jharkhand.
  • DLC Rejections: Rejections at Bank of Baroda and Central Bank of India are primarily due to incorrect PPO or account details entered by applicants.
  • Joint Accounts: Banks must comply with guidelines to treat family pensioners as primary account holders after a pensioner's death.

Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW)

  • Transgender Children: DoPPW is rewriting Rule 50 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, to consider recognizing transgender children as dependents.
  • CPENGRAMS ATRs: A fresh OM will be issued directing departments to upload supporting documents for grievance redressal.
  • Double Taxation: CBDT clarified that medical reimbursements are distinct from pension and are perquisites, not subject to double taxation.

Defence and Ex-Servicemen Welfare

  • SPARSH Grievances: Nodal officers have been identified to enhance coordination; FMA discontinuation is now possible through the SPARSH portal.

Carried Forward Agenda Items

  • Grant-in-Aid: Approved increase from ₹75,000 to ₹5,00,000 per annum per association.
  • Family Pension SOP: Work is ongoing to simplify Rule 50 and release instructional videos for family pensioners.
  • Department of Posts: An in-house "Exit Management Module" for pension cases will be operational by the end of 2026.
  • NRI Pensioners: A dedicated email (sparshnri.dad@gov.in) has been created for NRI defence pensioners to submit Life Certificates.
  • OROP-III: Policy letters for OROP-III were issued in late 2024 following deliberations.
  • Commutation Restoration: Missing restoration dates are being updated in SPARSH using historical records where available.

Source: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

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Educational Purpose Only: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.

Accuracy & Mistakes: While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, human errors or omissions may occur.

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