8th Pay Commission Update: CSS Forum Pushes for Higher CGEIS Insurance Benefits
The CSS Forum has urged the 8th Central Pay Commission to consider higher contributions and sum assured under CGEIS, citing present-day needs and rising insurance covers. Separately, CGHS has empanelled 207 hospitals in Delhi-NCR. The forum is also promoting ‘CSS Shield’, which seeks at least INR 15 lakh for families of officers who die in service.
The Central Secretariat Service (CSS) Forum has urged the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) to consider increasing the contribution and sum assured under the Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme (CGEIS), PTI reported on Saturday, September 5. The forum said the enhancement should reflect present-day needs and the higher insurance covers available in the market.
The association of CSS officers said the proposed increase would strengthen financial protection for government employees and their families. “The CSS Forum remains committed to the welfare and security of the CSS fraternity and their families,” the statement added. 8th Pay Commission: Employee Unions Demand Higher Bonus Ceilings Ahead of Dussehra Festival.
CSS Forum Seeks Higher CGEIS Cover
The CSS Forum said existing insurance limits should be reviewed in view of changing financial requirements and insurance products available in the market.
The forum's demand comes as the government continues preparations related to the 8th Pay Commission, which is expected to examine pay, allowances and other service-related matters for central government employees. 8th Pay Commission: What if Annual Increment Rises From 3% to 7%? See 10-Year Salary Impact.
CGHS Empanels 207 Hospitals
Separately, the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) in June empanelled 207 hospitals in Delhi and the National Capital Region, comprising 190 multi-speciality and 17 super-speciality hospitals, ANI reported.
The move aims to improve healthcare access for central government employees, pensioners and their dependents. According to a memorandum issued by the CGHS headquarters in New Delhi and signed by Additional Director Dr Pushp Lata, the empanelment will remain valid for three years, until June 10, 2029.
The super-speciality hospitals include Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali; Yashoda Medicity at Indrapuram, Ghaziabad; Medanta The Medicity Hospital in Gurugram; Amrita Hospital in Faridabad; and Fortis Healthcare in Shalimar Bagh, among others.
The list of multi-speciality hospitals includes Escorts Heart Institute in Okhla, Max Smart Super Speciality at Saket, Delhi Heart Hospital and Action Cancer Hospital in Paschim Vihar, Delhi, among others.
Delhi-NCR based beneficiaries with a CGHS card can access these hospitals for cashless and specialised treatments, including cardiology, neurology and oncology. The CSS Forum said the move will “enhance accessibility, choice and quality healthcare services for central government employees, pensioners and their families”.
‘CSS Shield’ Initiative For Bereaved Families
The CSS Forum's demands also come alongside its ‘CSS Shield’ initiative, which seeks to support families of CSS officers who die while in service. On September 5, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh backed the initiative, saying it could help create a culture of supporting families following a sudden loss. He said, “the mechanism is not difficult to implement; what matters is the collective will and willingness to contribute”.
Under ‘CSS Shield’, the forum seeks to provide at least INR 15 lakh to a bereaved family and progressively increase the assistance as participation grows. The CSS has around 13,000 members, and the forum aims to substantially increase the support available through the initiative in the future.
Scholarships And Financial Assistance
Jitendra Singh also suggested that the initiative could eventually expand to include scholarships for children of deceased CSS officers as participation and the corpus grow. The forum said it would explore the proposal.
According to the forum, memoranda of understanding (MoUs) have been signed with educational institutions to provide education at concessional rates. CSS officers have also collectively contributed around INR 1.30 crore since 2020 towards financial assistance for the families of approximately 65-70 deceased officers.
The initiatives form part of the forum's broader focus on welfare, healthcare access and financial support for serving CSS officers, pensioners and their families.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 07, 2026 12:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).