Agitation over OROP
219 Shri Pramod Tiwari
Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to satate :-
(a) whether ex-Servicemen have been agitating for grant of One Rank One Pension (OROP);
(b) if so, response of Government thereto; and
(c) whether any scheme has been framed in this regard and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a) Ex-servicemen have been agitating from 2009 for One Rank One Pension (OROP).
(b) & (c): Government has issued orders for implementation of OROP on 7.11.2015. Salient features of the OROP are as under:
(i) Pension of the past pensioners would be re-fixed on the basis of pension of retirees of calendar year 2013 and the benefit will be effective with effect from 01.07.2014.
(ii) Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners on the basis of the average of minimum and maximum pension of personnel retired in 2013 in the same rank and with the same length of service.
(iii) Pension for those drawing above the average shall be protected.
(iv) Arrears will be paid in four equal half yearly instalments. However, all the family pensioners including those in receipt of Special / Liberalized family pension and Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one instalment.
(v) In future, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 years.
Personnel who opt to get discharged henceforth on their own request under Rule 13(3) 1(i)(b), 13(3)1(iv) or Rule 16B of the Army Rule 1954 or equivalent Navy or Air Force Rules will not be entitled to the benefits of OROP. It will be effective prospectively.
The Government has decided to appoint a Judicial Committee to look into anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP.