Retirement age is a crucial aspect of government service, impacting employees across various sectors. The fundamental rules governing retirement and extension of service vary based on profession and specific departmental requirements.
Below is an overview of the retirement age for different government employees and the circumstances under which service extensions are granted.
As per Fundamental Rule (FR) 56 (a), every government employee retires on the last day of the month, on which they turn 60 years old unless specified otherwise. However, exceptions exist for specific professions, particularly in the medical field.
The superannuation age for doctors varies depending on the service they belong to. The retirement age for doctors in the following categories is 62 years, unless they opt for extended service based on their expertise:
These medical professionals may extend their service up to 65 years if assigned to Teaching, Clinical, Patient Care, Health Program Implementation, Public Health programs, or advisory roles based on their expertise, as decided by the concerned ministry.
For doctors in the Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles, the retirement age is 65 years by default.
Nursing teaching faculty with an M.Sc. in Nursing in Central Government Nursing Institutions have a retirement age of 65 years, provided they continue as faculty members beyond the age of 60.
Eminent scientists of international stature may be granted an extension of service up to 64 years if it serves the public interest and is recorded in writing.
According to constitutional provisions, at present, Supreme Court judges retire at the age of 65 years, while judges of the 25 High Courts retire at 62 years.
The Central Government can extend the service of the Secretary, Department of Space, and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy up to 66 years if deemed necessary in the public interest.
The Fifth Central Pay Commission, in paragraph 128.16 of its report, recommended increasing the retirement age of Central Government employees from 58 years to 60 years. This recommendation was accepted, and the retirement age was officially raised to 60 years for all Central Government employees, barring specific exceptions.
The retirement age in government service varies significantly based on the sector and role. While the general retirement age is 60 years, medical professionals, nursing faculty, scientists, and senior officials in specialised departments enjoy extended service opportunities.
The government periodically revises retirement policies in public interest, ensuring that experienced professionals continue contributing to their respective fields where necessary.
These rules aim to balance the need for fresh talent with the retention of experienced personnel, ensuring the smooth functioning of government institutions.
Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.
Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.
Published on: Apr 2, 2025, 2:29 PM IST
Neha Dubey
Neha Dubey is a Content Analyst with 3 years of experience in financial journalism, having written for a leading newswire agency and multiple newspapers. At Angel One, she creates daily content on finance and the economy. Neha holds a degree in Economics and a Master’s in Journalism.
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