The
Union Cabinet has approved the recommendations of the Committee
headed by Cabinet Secretary for benefits to ex-servicemen on four
issues. The financial implications of the improvements made as
per the Cabinet decision on the four items are broadly estimated at Rs.2300
crore per annum. The details are as follows:
I. One
Rank One Pension:
On One Rank One Pension, the demand of the Defence
Forces and Ex-Servicemen Associations is that uniform pension be paid to the
Defence Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of
service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in
the rates of pension be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.
The
difference in the pension of present and past pensioners in the same rank
occurs on account of the number of increments earned by the defence personnel
in that rank. There is also a difference between the pension of pre
1.1.06 and post 1.1.06 retirees belonging to a particular rank. The
UPA Government on two previous occasions has taken decisions to narrow the gap
between the present and past pensioners, particularly those belonging to the
ranks of JCOs and Other Ranks.
On
the issue of One Rank One Pension, the following have been approved by the
Cabinet:
(i) Bridging of the
gap in the pension of pre 1.1.06 and post 1.1.06 JCO/OR retirees by determining
the pension of pre 1.1.06 retirees on the basis of notional maximum for ranks
and groups across the three Services as in the case of post
1.1.06 retirees. In addition, the weightage of
qualifying service in the ranks
of Sepoys, Naik and Havaldar would be increased by
two years for both pre and post 1.1.06 retirees.
(ii) The pension of pre
1.1.06 Commissioned Officer pensioners would be stepped up with reference to
the minimum of fitment table for the ranks instead of
the minimum of pay band.
These are expected to largely meet the demands of the defence pensioners
on one rank one pension.
II. Enhancement
of Family Pension :
(i) The
pension of pre - 1.1.2006 family pensioners(Commissioned Officers, Honorary
Commissioned Officers, JCOs/ORs ) be stepped up based on the minimum of the
fitment table instead of the minimum of the Pay Band;
(i) Establishing linkage of the family pension with
the pension of JCOs/ORs, in
those cases where the death takes place after the retirement of the JCO/OR since such a JCO/OR drew
a pension based on the maximum
of the pay scales, 60% of the pension applicable to JCO/OR pensioners would be granted to the family
pensioner in case of normal
family pension calculated a 30% of last pay drawn. Accordingly, based on the rank, group and length
of service of the deceased
JCO/OR pensioner, his pension would first be determined on notional basis. In cases where death of JCO/OR
took place after retirement,
the family pensioners in receipt of normal family pension would become entitled to 60% of the said pension
determined on notional basis and
those in receipt of enhanced family pension will be entitled to 100% of this pension. Similar
entitlements would be determined
in the case of Special Family Pension; and
(ii) The
family pensioner of the JCO/OR would be granted pension arrived
at on the basis of the family pension worked out as per the formulation at (i)
above or the pension on the basis of stepping upwith reference to the minimum of
the fitment table, whichever is beneficial. Further, the linkage of family pension
with retiring pension be applied in the case of post 1.1.2006 family
pensioners ofJCOs/ORs
also.
III. Dual
Family Pension:
Dual family pension would be allowed in the present
and future cases where the pensioner drew, is drawing or may draw
pension for military service as well as for civil employment.
IV. Family
pension to mentally / physically challenged children of armed forces personnel
on marriage:
Grant of family pension to
mentally/physically challenged children who drew, are drawing or may draw
family pension would continue even after their marriage.
The above recommendations made by
the Committee on pension issues of Ex-Servicemen may be implemented from a prospective
date and payment made accordingly.
