Srinagar : Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said the governance and pension reforms introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the last 12 years are now benefiting a wider section of employees and pensioners in Jammu and Kashmir following the transition of the erstwhile state into a Union Territory.
Speaking at the 59th Pre-Retirement Counselling (PRC) Workshop and 13th Bankers’ Awareness Programme organised by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre, Dr. Singh said the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir significantly increased the number of Central Government employees in the region, initially creating service-delivery and administrative challenges.
He said these challenges have been progressively addressed through coordinated efforts of the government and associated institutions, ensuring that employees and pensioners across the Union Territory increasingly benefit from major pension reforms introduced over the last decade.
Dr. Singh praised the role of J&K Central Pensioners’ Associations, calling them valuable partners in ensuring a smooth transition. He said the associations have consistently raised concerns while offering practical suggestions, helping facilitate the integration of former state employees into the Central Government framework.
He said the associations’ constructive engagement has contributed significantly to the effective implementation of pension reforms in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister said pensioners in J&K are now increasingly benefiting from citizen-centric initiatives launched under the Modi government, reflecting a transformed pension administration system focused on welfare, dignity and ease of living.
The event was attended by Nivedita Shukla Verma, Secretary, DoPPW; Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary of J&K; Amitava Chatterjee, MD and CEO of J&K Bank; and Dhrubajyoti Sengupta, Joint Secretary (Pension), along with senior officials, bankers and employees nearing retirement.
On the occasion, DoPPW and J&K Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand pension-related services across the Union Territory. Dr. Singh said the partnership would improve service delivery and make pension-related services more accessible to retirees.
Highlighting key reforms, Dr. Singh said the pension department has evolved from being merely a pension-processing body to an institution dedicated to pensioners’ welfare.
He noted that the Bhavishya digital platform has revolutionised pension administration by enabling end-to-end digitisation of pension processing, with Pension Payment Orders integrated into DigiLocker for seamless and paperless access.
The Minister also described the Digital Life Certificate initiative through face authentication as one of the government’s most impactful reforms. He said pensioners can now submit life certificates from home using mobile phones, reducing dependence on physical visits to banks and offices.
Dr. Singh said the nationwide Digital Life Certificate campaign in November 2025 saw record participation, with over 1.91 crore certificates generated across India, including more than 1.16 crore through face authentication technology.
He added that grievance redressal mechanisms such as CPENGRAMS, National Pension Adalats and thematic reviews have improved the resolution of pension-related complaints.
The Minister said reforms related to family pension, additional pension, retirement benefits and cases involving missing employees have further strengthened the social security framework for pensioners and their families.
He also highlighted the Anubhav platform, which encourages retiring employees to document their experiences, innovations and best practices, helping preserve institutional memory. He welcomed the launch of Anubhav Scheme 2026, aimed at recognising exemplary contributions of retiring government employees.
Dr. Singh said the growing number of pensioners reflects improved life expectancy and better quality of life, adding that retired government employees remain valuable contributors to society due to their experience and expertise.
He said pre-retirement counselling workshops are designed not only to familiarise employees with pension procedures and retirement benefits but also to help them prepare for a meaningful post-retirement life.
Calling upon retiring employees to remain active in nation-building, Dr. Singh said senior citizens and pensioners have an important role in the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, contributing through their wisdom, knowledge and lifelong experience.
