Cabinet approves revision of pension for defence personnel under One Rank One Pension scheme

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved the revision of the pension for family pensioners of armed forces under One Rank One Pension (OROP) from July 1, 2019.

It will lead to enhanced pension according to the OROP proposal, said information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur.

He said the decision will lead to enhanced pension as per the OROP proposal. The cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.


The decision has been taken with the aim to attract youth to join armed forces.

The benefit would also be extended to family pensioners including war widows and disabled pensioners, Thakur said. He said benefits will be extended to about 25.13 lakh armed forces pensioners and family pensioners.

Armed forces personnel retired up to June 30, 2019 to be covered under this revision. The revision will entail an estimated annual expenditure of Rs 8450 crore. The arrears will be with effect from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022.

The decision to implement OROP was taken by the Narendra Modi government on November 7, 2015 with benefits effective from July 1, 2014.

OROP was a long-standing demands of the armed forces and implies that retired soldiers of the same rank, who have retired after serving for the same length of service, will receive the same pension, irrespective of the date and year of their retirement.

(With inputs from agencies)