India Launches Simplified Pension Form 6-A

The Indian government is set to launch a new simplified pension application form, 'Form 6-A', on August 30, 2024, aimed at retiring employees from December 2024 onwards. This initiative follows a notification from the Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) dated July 16, 2024, and is part of the government's 'Maximum Governance—Minimum Government' policy. The new form consolidates nine previous forms into a single streamlined application, accessible via the Bhavishya/e-HRMS platforms. Retiring officials on e-HRMS will complete the form digitally, while others will use the Bhavishya system. This simplification is expected to enhance the user experience and facilitate a fully digitized, paperless pension processing system. Union Minister Jitendra Singh will formally unveil the changes, which are considered transformative for the pension application process.