Union Cabinet gives nod to implementation of One Rank One Pension Scheme

The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval for implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) retrospectively with effect from 1st July, 2014.
Decision in this regard was taken by Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
OROP will provide ex-servicemen of same rank and same length of service uniform pension regardless of date of retirement.
Key facts

• The benefits of OROP will be given with effect from 1st of July 2014 and it will benefit ex-servicemen of all three services- Army, Navy and Air Force.
• The benefits will also be extended to family pensioners including war widows and disabled pensioners.
• All arrears will be paid in four half-yearly instalments. However all widows, family pensioners including those in receipt of Gallantry award will be paid arrears in one installment.
• Pension will be re-fixed every five years and future enhancements in rates of pension would be automatically passed to the past pensioners.
• Armed forces personnel who retire voluntarily would be not covered under OROP scheme.
• However, it will be applicable to personnel who have already retired prematurely.

Union Government has constituted Judicial Committee headed by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, in December 2015 to give recommendations for the removal of anomalies that may arise in the implementation of OROP retrospectively with effect from 1st July, 2014. The single member committee will give its report in six months on the references made by the Government of India.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2016