One Rank One Pension Scheme
Description
One Rank One Pension Scheme
Description: One Rank One Pension (OROP) is a policy that provides equal pension to military personnel of the same rank and length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.
Before implementation of OROP, the computation of pension was linked to the pay drawn by the personnel in a particular pay scale/ pay band at the time of his/her retirement. Pay scales are revised to the higher side generally on the recommendation of Pay Commissions. As such, the personnel retiring after the revision of the pay scales got more pension than those who had already retired. Hence, the gap remained in the pension of the past and present retirees.
The Government accepted the ‘One Rank One Pension’ in 2014 after the constitution of 16th Lok Sabha and an allocation of Rs. 1000 crore was provided in the Budget 2014-15 for implementation of OROP.
Objective
OROP essentially implies that uniform pension be paid to military personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement. The primary objective is to ensure that individuals who retire earlier do not receive lesser pensions than those who retire later, thereby addressing long-standing grievances within the armed forces community.
Beneficiaries
The Armed Forces Personnel retired up to June 30, 2019 {excluding pre-mature (PMR) retired w.e.f. July 01, 2014} are covered under this revision. More than 25.13 lakh (including over 4.52 lakh new beneficiaries) Armed Forces Pensioners/family pensioners have been benefitted. Pension for those drawing above the average shall be protected. The benefit would also be extended to family pensioners, including war widows and disabled pensioners.
Salient features of OROP order were as under:
• Equalizing Pension: The core principle of OROP is to bring about uniformity in pension amounts for individuals of the same rank and length of service, irrespective of the date of retirement.
• Periodic Revision: The pensions are subject to periodic revisions, ensuring that retired personnel continue to receive a fair and up-to-date amount in line with current economic conditions.
• Arrears Payment: OROP also entails the payment of arrears, covering the gap between the actual pension received and the amount that would have been received under the revised scheme, from the date of implementation.
Impact on Armed Forces Morale:
The successful implementation of OROP has had a positive impact on the morale of the armed forces. It signifies the government's commitment to the well-being of its military personnel and serves as a recognition of their service and sacrifices.
Conclusion:
One Rank One Pension is a landmark initiative aimed at rectifying historical disparities in pension amounts for retired armed forces personnel. While its implementation has faced challenges, the overall impact on the well-being and morale of veterans has been substantial. OROP stands as a testament to the government's acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by the armed forces in safeguarding the nation's security.
