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How to check pension status / PPO number

Direct answer. For Central govt employees: visit bhavishya.nic.in (DoPPW Bhavishya portal) — track your pre-retirement pension processing. After retirement: check at cpao.nic.in or your disbursing bank (typically your salary bank). PPO Number is your master ID — first installment released within 8 months of retirement (CCS Pension Rules 2021 Rule 65).

Quick facts

Pre-retirement portal bhavishya.nic.in (DoPPW)
Post-retirement portal cpao.nic.in (Central Pension Accounting Office)
PPO format 12-digit Pension Payment Order number
SLA 8 months pre-retirement processing (CCS Pension Rules 2021)
Bank route Disbursing bank statement / passbook
Helpline Bhavishya: 1800-11-3000 · CPAO: 1800-11-7788
Email [email protected] / [email protected]
Statutory base CCS (Pension) Rules 2021

Step-by-step

Real story from a citizen

What we hear from RTI Wiki users: Mr. Ramamurthy, a 60-year-old retired Junior Engineer from CPWD Delhi, hadn't received any pension 7 months after retirement. He filed an RTI to his last drawing office (CPWD Division) asking (a) date of forwarding pension papers to AG/CPAO, (b) current location of file, © reason for delay beyond Rule 65's 8-month timeline, (d) provisional pension status under Rule 68, (e) projected sanction date. Reply in 26 days revealed the file was held up at AG's office for 5 months on a single missing service-verification entry. He chased AG; PPO issued in 14 days; arrears (7 months × Rs. 36,000) credited.

7 reasons your status may be stuck

Pro tips most don't know

Helpline + contact

Bhavishya: 1800-11-3000 · CPAO: 1800-11-7788 · DoPPW: 011-26194914 · Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

If status is delayed beyond SLA — file an RTI

The official SLA on this service is published. If your status is stuck beyond it, you have a statutory right under §6 RTI Act 2005 to demand information from the public authority. Reply mandatory in 30 days.

File an RTI to: Pay & Accounts Office (PAO) + AG (Audit) + Last Drawing Office

Ask these 5 questions:

  1. date pension papers forwarded to AG/CPAO
  2. officer-in-charge
  3. reason for delay beyond 8-month rule
  4. provisional pension status (Rule 68)
  5. projected sanction date

Use our free AI RTI Drafter to generate a complete §6(1) application in 60 seconds. The Drafter pre-fills your name, address, fee statement, and the 5 questions above.

Or speak it in हिन्दी / English / 9 other Indian languages via AwaazRTI.

For deeper case-law on this scenario: Read the full RTI guide for pension delay.

Frequently asked questions

How long after retirement should pension start?

CCS Pension Rules 2021 mandate 8-month pre-retirement processing. First installment should hit your bank by retirement date or within 30 days.

What is provisional pension and when can I claim it?

Rule 68 of CCS Pension Rules — 100% of basic + DA, payable when final pension is delayed > 6 months post-retirement. Demand in writing.

Can I receive pension in any bank?

Yes — pensioner is free to choose any bank. CPAO portal handles transfer without re-application.

What if my PPO is lost?

Disbursing bank can issue duplicate. Contact bank with Aadhaar + service certificate.

Family pension after pensioner's death — what to do?

Spouse files Form-14 with HoO + death certificate + bank passbook. Revision within 30 days mandated. Children eligible till 25 (sons) / lifelong (unmarried/disabled daughters).

Summary + what to do next

To check status: use the official portal listed above with your reference number. SLA is published; if stuck beyond it, file a free RTI.

All RTI Wiki tools (free, no login)

Sources

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.