New figures on the central government workforce and the number of pensioners have also been published by the Finance Ministry, giving a better picture of the Union government workforce strength and pensioner liabilities at a time when pension spending has become a significant portion of India‘s revenue expenditure. This was revealed following a question posed in parliament and is included in the regular personnel and expenditure reports of the ministry.
More Than a Million Central Employees on Roll
As per the current statistics prepared by the Finance Ministry, the Union government now has slightly more than 9.8 lakh employees (including defence forces) with distribution in ministries, in public offices, and central administrative departments. The total figure covers administrative and field employees in various states and Union territories, which portrays a broad base of direct central employment in civilian stations.
According to the ministry, the level of recruitment into the ministry differs, and vacant positions are filled according to need, financial allocation, and administrative rules. Vast recruitment campaigns are still ongoing in some departments to fill sanctioned vacancies.
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Pensioner Count Continues to Rise
The population of central government pensioners has reached 9.1 million, which is equivalent to the number of the active labour force. Old Pension Scheme pension liabilities have become an increasing burden on government spending, especially for the Old Pension Scheme, which covers most of the currently retired employees.
The authorities indicated that the spending on pensions has grown steadily over the last 10 years and is a significant head under non-development revenue spending. Pension outgo comprises of civil services, defence civilians and some other categories that are under the central rules.
Pension Expenditure a Key Fiscal Pressure
The Finance Ministry recognised that the number of pension liabilities will continue to increase in the coming years as large cohorts of employees from previous decades retire. The new controversy on the Old Pension Scheme and the National Pension System has made the matter and issue a subject of political sensitivity, and several states have already declared their changes in their respective pension plans.
Central authorities re-emphasized, though, that spending on pensions is still being handled under the annual budgetary plan, and long-term reviews were still continuing to influence the financial planning. The process of the Union budget will include further forecasts about the next several years.
Vacancies and Ongoing Recruitment
The ministry also reported vacancies across various departments, stating that recruitment is being conducted through UPSC, SSC, and other channels. The recruitment in the Railways, defence civilians, revenue services, and central police organisations is still carried out through special examinations in large numbers.
Authorities justified that there are vacancies due to many reasons, such as superannuation, formation of new positions, and administrative restructuring, and recruitment drives are in most cases carried out in phases.
Personnel Figures Under Regular Review
The government suggests that the number of serving employees and registered pensioners is updated regularly, based on departmental reporting records and expenditure records. The ministry added that the most recent figures underscore the central personnel responsibility and the financial scale of the post-retirement benefits.
Authorities said that the government is still striking a balance between the recruitment imperatives and fiscal sustainability without interfering with the provision of essential services. The new figure also contributes to pension reforms, human resources reforms, and long-term budget planning.
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