'One rank One Pension' demand not feasible: Govt

NEW DELHI: Government today said that it has not found the demand of 'One rank One Pension' (OROP) feasible.

"Since the issue of OROP was not accepted in the past and more recently the Cabinet Secretary's committee set up to consider it also did not recommend the same, it has not been found feasible to accept the demand," Defence Minister A K Antony said in reply to a query in Rajya Sabha.

Regarding the Armed Forces Tribunal advocating providing equal salary and pension to the personal holding equal rank, the Minister said, "Chandigarh Bench of the Tribunal had passed the order with directions to the respondents to take final decision in the matter."

Answering another query, the Minister said to promote indigenisation and enhance self reliance in defence capabilities, the government was in the process of finalising a defence production policy by involving both public and private sector companies.

On whether the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) required additional aircraft to meet its requirements, the Minister said, "requirement of assets and equipment by IAF is based on threat perceptions and their procurement is an ongoing process."