Retirement and Service Gratuity – Calculation, Ceiling, Qualifying Service and Rates
What is Gratuity?
Gratuity is a bulk amount paid by the employer to his/her employee for his/her service at the time of retirement under the Gratuity Act 1972.
7th Pay Commission Gratuity
Death, Retirement, and Service Gratuity for CG Employees
What is Gratuity in Central Government Services?
Gratuity is a hidden savings of employees working in Government Service. The gratuity amount is calculated depends upon his period of service. The bulk amount of Gratuity is usually paid at the time of retirement. In some cases, it can be paid before as per existing rules.
How to calculate Gratuity?
Calculation of Gratuity = [ (Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance) x 15 days x Number of Years of Service ] / 26 Days.
Why calculating taken 26 Days instead of 31?
As per the labour law in India, the maximum working days in a month should be 26. A weekly holiday should be given to employees is compulsory.
What is the ceiling of Gratuity?
The 7th pay commission recommended to enhance the ceiling of Gratuity from Rs. 10 lakh to 20 lakh.
There are three types of Gratuity in force in Government services…
Retirement Gratuity, Death Gratuity and Service Gratuity
Retirement Gratuity
This is payable to the retiring Government servant. A minimum of 5 years’ qualifying service and eligibility to receive service gratuity/pension is essential to get this one-time lump sum benefit. Retirement gratuity is calculated @ 1/4th of a month Basic Pay plus Dearness Allowance is drawn on the date of retirement for each completed six monthly periods of qualifying service.
There is no minimum limit for the amount of gratuity. The retirement gratuity payable for qualifying service of 33 years or more is 16 times the Basic Pay plus DA, subject to a maximum of Rs. 20 lakhs.
Death Gratuity
This is a one-time lump sum benefit payable to the nominee or family member of a Government servant dying in harness. There is no stipulation in regard to any minimum length of service rendered by the deceased employee. Entitlement of death gratuity is regulated as under:
| Qualifying Service | Rate |
| Less than one year | 2 times of basic pay |
| One year or more but less than 5 years | 6 times of basic pay |
| 5 years or more but less than 11 years | 12 times of basic pay |
| 11 years or more but less than 20 years | 20 times of basic pay |
| 20 years or more | Half of the emoluments for every completed 6 monthly periods of qualifying service subject to a maximum of 33 times of emoluments. |
The maximum amount of Death Gratuity admissible is Rs. 20 lakhs w.e.f. 1.1.2016
Service Gratuity
A retiring Government servant will be entitled to receive service gratuity (and not pension) if the total qualifying service is less than 10 years.
The admissible amount is half a month’s basic pay last drawn plus DA for each completed 6 monthly periods of qualifying service. This one-time lump sum payment is distinct from retirement gratuity and is paid over and above the retirement gratuity.
Latest Developments on Gratuity
- 7th CPC increased Gratuity Ceiling limit – 20 lakh from 1.1.2016 September 21, 2024
- Benefit of Gratuity to CG Employees Covered under National Pension System (NPS) June 15, 2023
- Gazette Notification on Gratuity: Amount, Effective Date and Maternity Leave June 7, 2023
- Amount of Pension which was originally commuted shall only be deducted from the Revised Pension – DoPPW October 31, 2022
- Commuted Amount of Pension is Not Required to be Deducted from Family Pension – DoPPW October 31, 2022
- CG employees retired during the period from Jan 2020 to June 2021: Calculation of Gratuity and Leave Encashment September 9, 2021
- Loss of Gratuity and Leave Salary Due to Freezing of Dearness Allowance October 10, 2020
- Release Gratuity to retired employees of BSNL without any delay July 11, 2020
- Gratuity – Calculation, Ceiling, Qualifying Service and Rates September 17, 2019
- Revision of Gratuity and Severance Amount to GDS July 24, 2019
- 7th Pay Commission Committee recommendations on Gratuity July 23, 2019
- Stoppage of Retirement and Death Gratuity to the NPS Subscribers May 28, 2019
- IT Exemption for Gratuity upto 20 Lakhs – Gazette Notification March 15, 2019
- IT Exemption on Gratuity – 20 lakhs w.e.f. 29.3.2018 March 12, 2019
- Brief on Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Act, 2018 May 31, 2018
- Gratuity ceiling raised to 20 Lakhs w.e.f. 29.3.2018 March 30, 2018
- Upper Ceiling on Gratuity 20 Lakhs March 24, 2018
- UFBU writes to Finance Minister regarding Gratuity Ceiling December 11, 2017
- Non-Payment of Gratuity and Pay Revision Arrears by HEC March 15, 2017
- Retirement Gratuity Ceiling hiked to Rs.20 lakh for bank employees and officers March 7, 2017
- Rationalisation of Death Gratuity by 7th Pay Commission December 12, 2015
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