A website called The Sen Times published an article on 25 April, claiming that due to the coronavirus epidemic, the government can now reduce the retirement age to 50 years. According to the article the central government is mulling to make significant change to retirement age for those central government employees, who have attained the age of 50 and above.

The news portal had further said that the employees will get pension payment order (PPO) on the day of retirement but retirement benefits will be made in the post coronavirus economic crisis period.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy also tweeted about this on his official twitter handel saying: “Reducing DA and retirement age of government employees to 50 years is a self-defeating proposal which Govt, if it has already implemented, must withdraw before being forced to withdraw by a revolt.”

Fact Check 

In our investigation, we found that the viral claim is false , there is no such move by Govt. to bring down the retirement age of central government employees to 50 Years.

PIB Fact Check has denied this news by sharing a screenshot of the article from The Sen Times with its verified handle. It is written in the tweet, "A web news portal claims Centre is likely to reduce retirement age of Central Government employees to 50 In Coronavirus Crisis . The claim made within the report is false. Centre is neither planning nor discussing any such move."

According to a report of Economic Times Union Minister of State Personnel Dr Jitendra Singh categorically denied the 'rumours' by saying that "There is no such move to reduce the retirement age nor (there) has been such a proposal discussed or contemplated at any level in the government,". He also said that there are certain motivated elements which have been planting such disinformation time and again in a section of media over the last few days and attributing it to the government sources or the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

The Minister added that right from the beginning of the emergence of the Coronavirus challenge, the Central government has, from time to time taken prompt decisions to safeguard the interests of the employees.

We also find a press release of Ministry of personnel, public Grievances& pension .

The same web portal published similar news on 1 March 2020. The news was titled 'Retirement Age Soon To Be Reduced'. However, a source was quoted in the news as saying the extremely high level of unemployment prevailing in the country, which is affecting youths more than any other demographic group, the central government should reduce the retirement age of its employees in order to free up jobs for youths.Apart from this, we did not find any credible media report stating that the Central Government is going to reduce the retirement age of its employees.

Conclusion, The viral claim is fake that the government is likely to reduce the retirement age of Central government employees to 50 due to COVID-19 crisis. There is no such move to reduce the retirement age nor has been such a proposal discussed or contemplated at any level in the government.