17th Pension Adalat on Monday: 897 grievances across 24 ministries to be heard
Synopsis
The Centre's 17th Pension Adalat on Monday will attempt on-the-spot resolution of 897 long-pending grievances from super-senior and family pensioners across 24 ministries — the latest instalment of a mechanism that has resolved over 20,676 cases at a 71.79% success rate since 2017, all without a single court fee.
Key Takeaways
The 17th Pension Adalat will be held on Monday, 6 October 2025 at IIPA, New Delhi , chaired by Dr Jitendra Singh .
897 grievances from super-senior and family pensioners across 24 Ministries and Departments are listed for redressal.
Complainants can participate physically or via video conferencing under a hybrid format.
Since 2017 , the initiative has resolved 20,676 of 28,797 total grievances — a success rate of 71.79% .
The minister will release flyers on the 16th Pension Adalat and a new FAQ booklet for family pensioners at the event.
The 17th Pension Adalat will be convened on Monday, 6 October 2025, at the T.N. Chaturvedi Memorial Hall at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in New Delhi, with 897 long-pending grievances of super-senior pensioners and family pensioners scheduled for on-the-spot redressal. The proceedings will be chaired by Minister of State for Pension and Pensioners' Welfare Dr Jitendra Singh, according to an official statement released on Sunday.
The grievances, spanning 24 Ministries and Departments and filed through the CPENGRAMS Portal, represent cases that have remained unresolved for extended periods. Pensioners and their relatives from across the country will be able to participate either in person or via video conferencing, as the Adalat is being conducted in hybrid mode.
What Happens at the Adalat
During the proceedings, Dr Jitendra Singh will also release flyers highlighting the success stories of the 16th Pension Adalat, held on 13 May. A booklet containing Frequently Asked Questions on issues concerning family pensioners is also set to be released at the event.
The Adalat provides a common platform for all stakeholders linked to a specific category of grievance to convene and work toward resolution — operating, as officials describe it, in the spirit of a 'Whole-of-Government Approach'.
Why the Pension Adalat Matters
The initiative, introduced by the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) in 2017, was designed as an alternative to costly and time-consuming court proceedings. By bringing ministries, departments, and complainants together under one roof, the mechanism aims to resolve disputes that would otherwise clog judicial or administrative pipelines for years.
This is particularly significant for super-senior pensioners — many of whom face mobility and health constraints — for whom prolonged litigation is not a practical option. The hybrid format further reduces the physical burden on aged complainants.
Track Record Across 16 Editions
Across its previous 16 editions, Pension Adalats have addressed a total of 28,797 grievances, resolving 20,676 on the spot — a 71.79% success rate. Cases not resolved at the Adalat itself have been taken up subsequently through inter-ministerial review meetings, according to official data.
Notably, the mechanism has matured significantly since its launch, with each edition covering a broader range of ministries and deploying technology — such as CPENGRAMS — to track and prioritise cases.
What Comes Next
The DoPPW has indicated that grievances not resolved during Monday's proceedings will be followed up through inter-ministerial review meetings. With 897 cases listed — spanning two dozen government bodies — the 17th edition is among the larger convocations in the series. The outcome will also inform the FAQ booklet to be circulated, potentially helping future pensioners navigate common dispute categories before they escalate to formal complaints.
Point of View
And whether beneficiaries actually receive revised payments promptly after the Adalat closes. The hybrid format is a meaningful accessibility step for aged pensioners, yet the deeper question is why 897 cases remain unresolved long enough to require ministerial intervention in the first place. A mechanism that keeps growing in caseload each edition may be succeeding at resolution, but it is also quietly signalling that upstream pension processing remains error-prone.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pension Adalat and how does it work?
The Pension Adalat is a grievance redressal forum introduced by the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) in 2017, where long-pending pension complaints are taken up for on-the-spot resolution in the presence of officials from the concerned ministries and the pensioners or their families. It works as an alternative to court proceedings, bringing all stakeholders together under a 'Whole-of-Government Approach'.
How many cases will be heard at the 17th Pension Adalat?
A total of 897 grievances filed by super-senior pensioners and family pensioners across 24 Ministries and Departments on the CPENGRAMS Portal will be taken up at the 17th Pension Adalat on Monday, 6 October 2025.
Who is chairing the 17th Pension Adalat?
The 17th Pension Adalat will be chaired by Minister of State for Pension and Pensioners' Welfare Dr Jitendra Singh at the T.N. Chaturvedi Memorial Hall, IIPA, New Delhi.
What is the track record of Pension Adalats so far?
Across 16 previous editions, Pension Adalats have taken up 28,797 grievances and resolved 20,676 on the spot — a success rate of 71.79%. Remaining cases have been addressed subsequently through inter-ministerial review meetings.
Can pensioners outside New Delhi participate in the Pension Adalat?
Yes. The 17th Pension Adalat is being conducted in hybrid mode, allowing complainants from across the country to join either physically at IIPA in New Delhi or through video conferencing.
