The new, uniform definition of "wages" caps allowances at 50 per cent of total compensation. This means basic pay will rise, increasing provident fund (PF) and gratuity contributions. Take-home salary may fall slightly, but retirement benefits grow significantly

The new GR tightens the eligibility criteria, defining an “institutional orphan” as a child whose biological parents died before the age of 18 and who was raised solely in institutions recognised under the Juvenile Justice Act. The previous term “parents” has been replaced with “biological parents” to clarify eligibility