(a) whether the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) has urged the Government to give similar pension benefits to railway officers and employees as given to Defence Ex-servicemen;
(b) if so, the details of points raised by NFIR in their demands; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereon?
(a) Yes, Madam.
(b) National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) has sought (1) exemption of Railway employees appointed on or after 01.01.2004 from the purview of National Pension System (NPS) thereby restoring the earlier pension scheme and (2) extension of One Rank-One Pension scheme (OROP) for Railway employees also.
(c) Ministry of Railways being an administrative Ministry, follows the instructions on pension related matters of Government of India issued by the nodal Ministries i.e. Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Ministry of Finance have advised that the request for seeking exemption of the Railway servants, appointed on or after 01.01.2004 from the application of the NPS, does not seem to be a feasible proposition. As regards the applicability of OROP for Railway employees, the subject matter lies in the purview of nodal Ministry mentioned above.
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