Minimum Monthly Pension – Details on demand for increasing from ₹ 1,000 to ₹ 7,500by EPS-95 pensioners, citing inadequacy amid rising inflation submitted by Sushri Sobha Kandlaje, Minister of State for Labour and employment in written reply of Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 89 to be answered on 29.01.2026
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 89
TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026
MINIMUM MONTHLY PENSION
89. DR. MEDHA VISHRAM KULKARNI:
Will the Minister of Labour and Employment be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government is aware of ongoing demands from lakhs of EPS-95 pensioners in Maharashtra for increasing the minimum monthly pension from ₹ 1,000 to ₹ 7,500, citing inadequacy amid rising inflation;
(b) if so, the details of representations received from Maharashtrabased employee unions and pensioners’ associations in this regard during 2025, along with the action taken thereon;
(c) whether any actuarial study or fund
viability assessment has been conducted specifically for Maharashtra
pensioners under EPS-95;
and
(d) the timeline proposed for revising the minimum pension under EPS95, including measures to ensure financial sustainability of the scheme?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (d): Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 is a ‘Defined Contribution-Defined Benefit’ social security scheme. The corpus of the Employees’ Pension Fund is made up of (i) contribution by the employer @ 8.33 per cent of wages; and (ii) 1.16% contribution from Central Government on wages upto Rs.15,000/- per month. All benefits under the scheme are paid out of this Fund.
The Government is providing a minimum pension of Rs.1000 per month to the pensioners under the EPS, 1995 through budgetary support, which is in addition to the budgetary support of 1.16 per cent of wages towards EPS to Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO).
The fund is valued annually as mandated under paragraph 32 of EPS, 1995. The objective of the valuation is to determine the long-term viability of the fund given the expected stream of money inflows from contributions, etc. and the outflows in terms of benefits.
The Government of India is committed to provide robust social security coverage through EPF Scheme, 1952, EPS-95 and EDLI Schemes being run by EPFO, to the members of these schemes, taking into consideration the sustainability of the respective funds as well as the future liabilities thereon.
Representations have been received from various stakeholders including trade unions and public representatives to increase the minimum pension under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995 from the existing Rs. 1,000/- per month.
There is no separate state wise fund for pensioners under EPS-95.
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