EPS minimum pension hike likely to be discussed at EPFO board meeting on November 19

There may be good news for lakhs of private-sector employees covered by the EPFO. The minimum monthly pension paid to retired employees could soon go up substantially. A high-level discussion is due on raising the minimum pension under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS).

A special meeting of the EPFO's Central Board of Trustees (CBT) has been scheduled for November 19, 2026. An important decision on raising the minimum pension could be taken at the meeting.

The Central Board of Trustees is the EPFO's highest decision-making body. Its 240th meeting is likely to be held on November 19 in Gir, Gujarat. The agenda for the meeting has not yet been finalised. Even so, board members have sought a review of the pension, according to several media reports. Members say the Rs 1,000 pension now being paid needs to be fixed afresh. If the issue gets a positive hearing at the meeting, private-sector employees stand to benefit directly.

Organisations of EPS pensioners have been campaigning for a long time for a higher pension. Their main demand is that the minimum pension of Rs 1,000 be raised to Rs 7,500. They also want pensioners to be given dearness allowance (DA). With prices so high, it has become very difficult to manage a month on Rs 1,000. Such a small sum does not cover the medicines and daily expenses of the elderly. A sharp and immediate increase in the pension is therefore being called for.

The government has already stated its position in Parliament on raising the minimum pension. The matter came up during a Lok Sabha session on August 10, 2026. Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje gave information on it. The government is itself supporting EPS pensioners from the budget so that they receive a pension of Rs 1,000. However, no official decision has been taken so far on implementing a pension of Rs 7,500. For the government, it is important to maintain the financial sustainability of the pension fund.

According to official figures released by the EPFO, a total of 85,84,604 pensioners were drawing a monthly pension under EPS as of March 31, 2026. If the coming meeting decides to raise the minimum pension, the lives of all these more than 85 lakh retired employees will improve. Employees are now watching what the government and the EPFO board decide at the November 19 meeting.