NEW DELHI: Dr. Deependra Chahar, Delhi State General Secretary of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), has thrown his weight behind the long-pending demand of retired bank employees for pension benefits on par with the Central Civil Services (CCS) Pension Rules. Calling the issue one of justice and equality, Dr. Chahar said BMS would pursue the matter with the Central Government on priority and warned that a nationwide protest would be launched if the demands remain unresolved within the next three months.
BMS Extends Strong Support to Bank Pensioners
Addressing the concerns of bank pensioners, Dr. Chahar said BMS stands firmly with retired employees and is committed to ensuring that they receive pension benefits equivalent to those enjoyed by Central Government pensioners. He assured that the organisation’s national leadership would take up the issue with the Union Finance Minister and other concerned authorities.
Finance Ministry Letter Strengthens Pensioners’ Demand
The renewed demand follows a communication issued by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, on May 20, 2026, which stated that the Bank Employees’ Pension Regulations (BEPR), 1995 are broadly based on the CCS Pension Rules, 1970. According to Dr. Chahar, this acknowledgment strengthens the case for extending similar pension benefits to retired bank employees.
He said that if both pension frameworks are based on the same principles, there should be no discrimination in implementing pension-related benefits. He also maintained that issues concerning retired employees should be handled independently and that serving employees’ unions should not interfere in matters affecting pensioners.
AIBRAF Highlights Long-Pending Pension Issues
Supporting the demand, the All India Bank Retirees Action Forum (AIBRAF) has submitted a detailed representation to the Department of Financial Services, urging the government to remove disparities in pension benefits. In its letter dated July 11, 2026, AIBRAF argued that the Bank Employees’ Pension Regulations, 1995 form a complete statutory framework governing pension, family pension, dearness relief and other retirement benefits. Since these regulations were framed on the lines of the CCS Pension Rules, the forum said retired bank employees should receive similar treatment.
Allegations Against IBA and UFBU
AIBRAF alleged that despite the regulatory framework, several important pension-related provisions have not been implemented over the past three decades. The organisation accused the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) of failing to implement pension updation after wage revisions, correctly calculate basic pension by including eligible allowances, merge 8,088 Consumer Price Index (CPI) points into basic pay for eligible retirees, and revise the Dearness Allowance base year from 2001=100 to 2016=100 for employees who retired before the 13th Bipartite Settlement.
Read Also: ‘Voice That Defined Generations Falls Silent’: Legendary Singer S. Janaki Dies At 88
According to the forum, these omissions have reduced the effective pension of many retired employees from around 50 per cent to nearly 35 per cent, causing significant financial hardship. It also claimed that the continued disparity has forced pensioners to seek legal remedies on multiple occasions.
The pensioners’ body further argued that pension-related decisions should be taken strictly within the provisions of the Bank Employees’ Pension Regulations and that any amendment should be considered by banks’ Boards of Directors with the approval of the Central Government wherever necessary.
BMS Warns of Nationwide Protest
Dr. Chahar reiterated that BMS considers the grievances of bank pensioners legitimate and deserving of immediate attention. He said retired employees have contributed significantly to the banking sector and should not be denied benefits that are available under comparable pension rules.
Issuing a strong warning, Dr. Chahar said that if the pending pension issues are not resolved within the next three months, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh will launch a nationwide protest in support of bank pensioners. He emphasized that BMS would continue its efforts until retired bank employees receive fair and equitable pension benefits in line with the CCS Pension Rules.
With support from one of the country’s largest trade unions and sustained representations by pensioners’ organisations, the demand for CCS-equivalent pension benefits is expected to remain a key issue before the Central Government in the coming months.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel for real-time news updates and exclusive coverage.
