PCDA Instructions for implementation of OROP for Defence Pensioners

OFFICE OF THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (PENSIONS)

DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD- 211014

Circular No. 555

Dated: 04.02.2016

To,
1. The Chief Accountant, RBI, Deptt. Of Govt, Bank Accounts, Central Office C-7, Second Floor, Bandre- Kuria Complex, P B No. 8143, Bandre East Mumbai- 400051

2. All CMDs, Public Sector Banks.
3. The Nodal Officers, ICICl/HDFC/AXIS/IDBI Banks
4. All Managers, CPPCs
5. Military and Air Attache, Indian Embassy, Kathmandu, Nepal
6. The PCDA (WC), Chandigarh
7. The CDA (PD), Meerut
8. The CDA Chennai
9. The Director of Treasury, All States
10. The Pay and Accounts Officer, Delhi Administration, R K Puram and Tis Hazari, New Delhi.
11. The Pay and Accounts Office, Govt of Maharashtra, Mumbai
12. The Post Master Kathua (J&K), Camp Bell Bay.
13. The Principal Pay and Accounts Officer Andaman and Nicobar Administration Port Blair.

Subject: Implementation of ‘One Rank One Pension’ to Defence pensioners.

Reference: Gol, MoD letter No12 (1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-II dated 3rd Feb,2016.

A copy of Government of India, Ministry of Defence letter No. 12(1)/2014/D (Pen/Policy)-Part-II dated 3rd Feb,2016 and Gol, MoD letter No 12 (1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part¬II dated 7th Nov,2015 on the above subject is forwarded herewith for information and necessary action which is self-explanatory.

2. The above Government letter has been issued to implement ‘One Rank One Pension’ (OROP) scheme for Defence Forces Personnel. Salient features of the scheme have been mentioned in Para 3 and 4 of Gol, MoD letter No 12 (1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-II dated 7th Nov, 2015

3. The revision of pension in terms of the above Government Orders shall be effective with effect from 01.07.2014,a n d payment of arrears accrued on account of revision of pension, if any, shall be made in a time bound manner as stipulated in para 17.1 of this circular.

4. NON-APPLICABILITY

4.1 The provisions of this circular do not apply to UK/HKSRA/KCIOs pensioners, Pakistan and Burma Army Pensioners.
4.2 These orders do not apply to Reservist Pensioners.
4.3 These orders also do not apply to Pensioners in receipt of Ex-Gratia payments.

5. APPLICABILITY

5.1 These orders apply to the all pensioners/family pensioners who had retired/discharged/invalided out from service/died in service or after retirement in the rank of Commissioned Officers, JCOs/ORs and Non-Combatants (Enrolled), Army, Navy, Air Force, Defence Security Corps, Territorial Army and who were/are in receipt of the following types of pension as on 01.07.2014.

a) Retiring Pension/ Service Pension/Service Element of Disability Pension/Service Element of War Injury Pension/Invalid Pension
b) Enhanced Rate of Ordinary Family Pension
c) Normal Rate of Ordinary Family Pension
d) Special Family Pension
e) Special Dependent Family Pension/2nd Life Award of Special Family Pension
f) Liberalized Family Pension
g) Liberalized Dependent Pension/2nd Life Award of Liberalized Family Pension
h) Disability Element of Disability Pension
i) War Injury Element of War Injury Pension (Discharge )
j) War Injury Element of War Injury Pension (In Invalided out)
k) Pre 01.06.1953 Discharged Personnel

These orders also apply to TA personnel and Non-Combatants (Enrolled) (NC’s (E)) of regular Army and Air Force drawing pension as on 1.7.2014

5.2. Invalid Pension, Service Element of Disability Pension and Service Pension of TA personnel would also need to be revised in terms of these orders by the Pension Disbursing Agencies (PDAs). Specific tables indicating revised rates of pension for the purpose have been enclosed.

5.3 Nature of award sanctioned to the pensioner may be identified by the PDAs on the basis of nomenclature of award mentioned in the PPO and PPO series. However, in case of any doubt regarding nature of award, the same may be referred to Nodal Officers (mentioned at Para 20 of this circular) for clarification.

5.4 Revision of Pension of DSC

Pension of DSC personnel who are in receipt of pension for DSC service only (i.e. those who are getting single pension for the services rendered both in the Army and the DSC by way of counting former service in the Army along with the service in the DSC) shall be revised based on the same rates as provided for regular army tables. DSC personnel on ‘clerical duty’ and ‘other duty’ are entitled for pension of regular army personnel of group ‘Y’. However, for JCOs/ORs of DSC in receipt of second pension due to their services in the DSC, separate tables have been prepared and enclosed. DSC personnel on ‘clerical duty’ and ‘other duty’ are entitled for the same rate of pension.

5.5 Revision of Pension of Territorial Army:

Pension of TA personnel who are in receipt of pension for TA service shall be revised based on Territorial Army tables for JCOs/ORs

6. Guidelines for Revision of Special Elements

The appended tables indicate revised rates of Relring/ Service/Special/Disability/Invalid/ Liberalized Disability / War Injury Pension including Disability/War Injury Element and Ordinary/ Special/ Liberalized Family Pension of Commissioned Officers, Honorary Commissioned Officers, JCOs/ORs and Non-Combatants (Enrolled) of Army, Navy, Air Force, Defence Security Corps & Territorial Army retired/ discharged/ invalided out from service/ died in service or after retirement. The existing pension of all pre-1.7.2014 pensioners/ family pensioners shall be enhanced with reference to the applicable table for the rank (and group in case of JCO/ORs) in which pensioned with the term of engagement for each rank as applicable from time to time.The rate of pension of pensioners/ family pensioners drawing more pension than the rate of revised Pension/ Family Pension indicated in annexed tables shall remain unchanged.

PDAs are hereby authorized to revise the pension as under:-

(1). Disability Pension/ Liberalized Disability Pension

Both the elements of Disability Pension/ Liberalized Disability Pension, i.e. Service Element and Disability Element shall be revised by the PDAs as per pension rates provided in the specific tables. Concordance tables showing revised rates of Service Element/Service Pension for various ranks are given in Table Nos. 1 to 9.

Concordance tables showing revised rates of Disability Element (in discharge and invalided out cases) for 100% disability for various ranks are given in Table Nos. 70 to 78.

For disability less than 100%, the Disability Element shall be proportionately reduced as per the period and degree of disablement already accepted.

Note-1. Disability element of Disability Pension is now linked with Service Pension/Service Element. Therefore, the Disability Element of Disability Pension is also linked with qualifying service of pensioners. Hence, PDAs may revise Service Element and Disability Element of Disability Pension on the basis of the rank/ group/category and qualifying service of the pensioners. Rank, group and qualifying service for which the individual has been pensioned have been indicated in original Pension Payments Orders (PPOs) or its Corrigendum PPOs. In case, any information regarding qualifying service, rank, group etc., is not available with PDAs, such cases may be referred to Pension Sanctioning Authorities concerned in the proforma enclosed as Annexure-`Ayboth for ICOs and JC0s/ORs) to the Govt. letter No.12 (1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-I I dt. 3rd Feb, 2016 a copy of which is enclosed with this circular.

(ii). War injury Pension

Similarly revision of Service Element of War Injury Pension and Service Element of Liberalized Disability Pension cases will also be carried out by the PDAs for which specific tables indicating revised rate of pension have been provided. Both the elements of War Injury Pension, i.e. Service Element and War Injury Element shall be revised by the PDAs in accordance with the specific tables.

Concordance tables showing revised rate of Service Element/Pension for various ranks are given in Table Nos. 1 to 9.

Concordance table showing revised rate of War Injury Element (in discharge case) for 100% disability for various ranks are given in Table Nos. 79 to 87. Concordance tables showing revised rate of War Injury Element (in invalided out cases) for 100% disability for various ranks are given in Table Nos. 88 to 96.

For disability less than 100%, the War Injury Element shall be reduced proportionately as per period and degree of disablement already accepted.

Note-1. War Injury Element of War Injury Pension is now linked with Service Pension/Service Element. Therefore, War Injury Element of War Injury Pension is also linked with qualifying service of pensioners. Hence, PDAs may revise Service Element and War Injury Element of War Injury Pension on the basis of the rank, group, category and qualifying service of the pensioners. Rank, group and qualifying service for which the individual has been pensioned have been indicated in original Pension Payments Orders (PPOs) or its corrigendum PPOs. This information is available with PDAs as they have revised pension of all such pensioners in recent past in terms of government orders issued for implementation of recommendations of 6th CPC, CSC-2009 & CSC-2012. In case, any information regarding qualifying service, rank, group etc., is not available with PDAs, such cases may be referred to Pension Sanctioning Authorities concerned in the proforma enclosed as Annexure-‘A’ to the Govt. Letter No(1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-II dt. 3rd Feb, 2016, a copy of which is enclosed with this circular.

(iii). Family Pension
Similarly, revision of all types of Family Pension viz Ordinary Family Pension (enhanced rate and normal rate), Special Family Pension (SFP/Special Dependent Family Pension/2nd life award of Special Family Pension), Liberalized Family Pension (LFP/Liberalized Dependent Pension/2nd life award of Liberalized Family Pension), cases will also be required to be revised by the PDAs.

Specific tables indicating revised rate of pension for the purpose have been provided in attached GOI,MoD (1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-II dt. 3rd Feb, 2016. PDAs are hereby authorized to revise Family Pension as follows

(a).Ordinary Family Pension
Both enhanced rate and normal rate of Ordinary Family Pension shall be revised by the PDAs in accordance with specific tables. Concordance tables showing revised rate of enhanced rate of Family Pension and normal rate of Family Pension for various ranks are given in Table Nos. 10 to 18 and 19 to 27 respectively.

(b) Special Family Pension:
Similarly concordance tables showing revised rates of Special Family Pension and Special Dependent Family Pension/2nd life award of Special Family Pension for various ranks are given in the Tables No. 28 to 36 and 37 to 45 respectively.

(c) Liberalized Family Pension:
Similarly concordance tables showing revised rate of Liberalized Family Pension and Liberalized Dependent Family Pension/2nd life award of Liberalized Family Pension for various ranks are given in the Table Nos. 46 to 54 and 55 to 69 respectively.

Note-1. Family Pension is linked with Service Pension/Element. Therefore, Family Pension is also linked with qualifying service of pensioners. In view of above, PDAs may revise family pension on the basis of rank group/category and qualifying service of the pensioners. Rank, group and qualifying service for which the individual was pensioned have been indicated in Original Pension Payments Orders (PPOs) or its Corrigendum PPOs. In case, any information regarding qualifying service, rank, group etc., is not available with PDAs, such cases may be referred to Pension Sanctioning Authorities concerned on the proforma enclosed as Annexure-‘A’ to the Govt. Letter No. (1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-II dt. 3rd Feb, 2016, a copy of which is enclosed with this circular.

7. Term of Engagement
PDAs are requested to revise the pension as per the tables appended to the enclosed MOD letter (1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-II dt. 3rd Feb, 2016 after ascertaining the actual qualifying service subject to the maximum term of engagement for each rank as applicable from time to time. A comprehensive list of maximum term of engagement for JCOs/ORs of Armed Forces applicable from time to time including emergency period is enclosed as Appendix-X to enable all PDAs to revise the pension correctly for the length of qualifying service for which the pensioner has been pensioned initially.

It is hereby clarified that term used as ‘Term of Engagement’ implies ‘maximum qualifying service for grant of service pension’ at the time of retirement. Therefore, Service Pension of the pensioners shall be revised with reference to actual qualifying service subject to `maximum qualifying service for grant of service pension’ i.e. in no case, Service Pension/Family Pension shall be revised for more than the maximum qualifying service, except for those cases which are mentioned in Appendix-X.

8. Re-grouping of Group

A table indicating equivalent group of JCOs/ORs in Army, Navy and Air Force is also provided as Appendix-Y to this circular for guidance of PDAs for determining pension admissible as per this circular.

9. Equivalent rank of the three Forces

A table indicating equivalent rank of ICOs and JCOs/ORs in Army, Navy and Air Force is also given in Appendix-Z to this circular for guidance of PDAs for determining pension admissible.

10. Rounding of Qualifying Service

While calculating the length of qualifying service for the pensionary benefits, a fraction of a year equal to 3 months and above but less than 9 months is treated as one half (1/2) year period, and nine months or more but less than a year is treated as a completed one year for determining the amount of pension w.e.f. 28/06/1983. Prior to 28/06/1983, the broken period of service of 180 days or more is to be treated as I/2 years w.e.f. 22/04/1960. In view of above, if qualifying service has been mentioned as 17 years 10 months in PPO/Corr PPO, it should be rounded upto 18 years for post 28.06.1983 retirees, 17.5 years for pre-28.6.1983 but post 22.04.1960 and 17 years for pre-22.04.1960 retirees.

11. The provisions of this circular shall be applicable to all Pre-01.07.2014 pensioners/family pensioners and their pension/family pension shall be stepped up with reference to rank, group and qualifying service in which they were pensioned.

Note: –

a) The officers retired on or after 1.1.1996 in the rank of Major and who have completed 21 years of service have been allowed the pay of Lt.Col. Accordingly, pension of these officers have been revised by issue of Corr. PPOs. It is therefore, requested to revise the pension of post-96 Army Officer with rank Major and its equivalent in the Air Force and Navy who have completed 21 years.

b) In case of pre-1.1.2006 retirees, rank for pension and rank last held may be different. While revising the Pension/Family Pension under these orders, rank for pension, which is shown in the PPOs, may be considered for pre 1-1-2006 retires.

c) A JCOs/ORs pensioner, who had retired with a particular rank and granted ACP-I will be eligible for revision of pension of next higher rank; if ACP-II has been granted, he will be eligible for revision of pension of next higher rank of ACP-I; and if ACP-III has been granted, he will be eligible for revision of pension of next higher rank of ACP-II w.e.f. 01.07.2014. For example- a Sepoy granted ACP-I will be eligible for revision of pension of Naik rank, sepoy granted ACP-II will be eligible for revision of pension of Havildar rank and sepoy granted ACP-III will be eligible for revision of pension of Naib Subedar rank.

11.1 Full pension of PSU absorbees, who had opted for 100% commutation of pension, shall be revised by concerned PSAs under these orders with reference to revised pension of the rank determined for regular category of pensioners. However, there shall be no change in restored amount of pension already notified by respective PSAs in their cases.

12.Categories of pensioners and its identification by PDAs

12.1 The Service Pension/Family Pension/Disability Pension/War Injury Pension for Commissioned Officers have been provided in tables attached with the GOI, MOD letter cited under reference.

There are under-mentioned categories of Commissioned Officers-

Regular Commissioned Officers (Excluding Officers of AMC/ ADC/ RVC/ MNS/ TA /EC /SSC)
Commissioned Officers of AMC/ADC/RVC
Commissioned Officers of Territorial Army
Commissioned Officers of Military Nursing Services
EC/SSC Officers (Other than AMC/ADC/RVC)
EC/SSC Officers of AMC/ADC/RVC doctors

The corps / categories of the officers in case of Army Officers may be identified from corps/categories mentioned in the original PPOs. Further, the Officer’s of the Army may be identified from prefix attached to their personnel no. The prefix and corresponding category of officers are mentioned as under-

IC, SL, SC, RC — Regular Commissioned officers.

MR Officers of Army Medical Corps

DR Officers of Army Dental Corps

V Officers of Remount veterinary Corps.

TA Officers of Territorial Army.

NR Officers of MNS

NTR Non-technical. Officers of Army Medical Corps.

EC Emergency Service Commissioned Officers

SS Short Service Commissioned Officers.

Note-1. The non-technical officers of Army Medical Corps are entitled to pension/family pension as per tables for regular Army officers and not as per AMC/ADC/RVC.

Note-2. The Medical Officers of Armed Forces may be identified from Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) element shown in emolument last drawn mentioned in the original PPOs or corr. PPOs issued under 5th CPC and 6th CPC. However, in case of doubt, matter may be referred to the Nodal Officers, indicated in Para 20 of this circular.

12.2. The rates for Service Pension/ Family Pension/ Disability Pension/ War Injury pension for JCOs/ORs have been provided in the tables attached with the GOI, MOD letter cited under reference.

There are under-mentioned categories of JCOs/ORs —

JCOs/ORs including Honorary commissioned officers
JCOs/ORs of DSC in receipt of 2nd Pension
JCOs/ORs of Territorial Army

Some PDAs have experienced difficulties in the past while revising pension according to corps/categories. The categories of the JCOs/ORs in the case of Army may be identified from categories mentioned in original PPOs. DSC’s Second Pension and TA personnel shall be

identified by PDAs on the basis of category mentioned in the PPOs. However, in case of any doubt matter may be referred to the Nodal Officers, indicated in Para 20 of this circular.

13.Methodology for Implementation

All PDAs handling disbursement of pension to defence pensioners are hereby authorized to carry out revision of Retiring/Service/Special/ Disability/ Invalid/ Liberalized Disability/War Injury Pension including Disability/War Injury Element and Ordinary/ Special /Liberalized Family Pension of all pre-1.7.2014 pensioners drawing pension as on 1.7.2014 in terms of Govt. order cited under reference with applicable rates of dearness relief without calling for any applications from the pensioners, and without any further authorization from the concerned Pension Sanctioning Authorities.

14.Rank, group and qualifying service for which the individual was pensioned have been indicated in the Original Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) or its corrigendum PPOs. This information is available with PDAs as they have revised pension of all such pensioners in the recent past in terms of government orders issued for implementation of recommendations of 6th CPC, CSC-2009 & CSC-2012. In case, any information regarding qualifying service, rank, group , is not available with Pension Disbursing Agencies, such cases may be referred to Pension Sanctioning Authorities concerned in the proforma enclosed as Annexure-‘A’ with Govt letter No. (1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-II dt. 3rd Feb, 2016 cited at reference.

15.Payment of Life Time Arrears (LTA)

In cases where the pensioner was alive on 1.7.2014 and died/dies subsequently before receiving payment, his legal heir/heirs is/are entitled to the LTA with effect from 1.7.2014 till death of the pensioner. In such cases, payment will be regulated as per Para 11 of the MOD letter cited under reference.

16 A suitable entry regarding revised pension should be made by the PDAs in Check Register/ Payment/ Register/ Pension Payment Scroll/ Register Pension Book/ Certificate. Where qualifying service for which pensioner was pensioned is not available in the PPO, qualifying service now intimated by PSA shall be noted prominently for future reference.

17.Additional instructions

17.1 No arrears on account of revision of pension shall be admissible for the period prior to 01.07.2014. Arrears on account of revision of pension from 1.7.2014 till date of its implementation shall be paid by the Pension Disbursing Agencies in four equal half-yearly installments. However, all the family pensioners including those in receipt of Special/Liberalized Family Pension and all Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one installment.

17.2 No commutation of pension shall be admissible on revised/additional amount of pension accruing as a result of the revision of pension under this order. However, the existing amount of pension, if any, that has been commuted will continue to be deducted from the revised pension.

17.3 As a result of these orders, there will be no change in the amount of gratuity already determined and paid with reference to the rules in force at the time of discharge/ Invalidment/death.

17.4 Any overpayment of pension coming to the notice or under process of recovery shall be adjusted in full by the PDAs against arrears becoming due on revision of pension on the basis of this Government letter, cited under reference.

17.5 The following elements will continue to be paid as separate elements in addition to the pension revised under this order.

a) Monetary allowance attached to Gallantry Awards such as Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra etc.

b) Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA)Wiacedmissible todisability pensioners.

17.6 The rate prescribed in these orders shall be the basic pension from 1.7.2014. Additional pension as applicable to the old age pensioners/ family pensioners on attaining the relevant age (80 years and above) shall also be enhanced by the PDAs from 1.7.2014 or the date from which the pensioner attain the age of 80 years or more, whichever is later as per the extant orders on the subject.

18.1. The Govt. has also desired that all the Public Sector Banks disbursing defence pension would render a monthly progress report as per the proforma (Annexure- B) (both for ICOs and JC0s/ORs) prescribed under Govt. letter cited under reference dated 03-02-2016 to the office of the PCDA (P) Allahabad. All PDAs are therefore, requested to ensure rendition of the said monthly report both in hard and soft copy by name to Shri J.P. Srivastava, Sr. AO (Audit Coordination) on e-mail ID : cda­[email protected] so as to reach the PSAs by 15th of the following month. It is also enjoined upon them that all the columns in proforma prescribed by the GOI, MOD must be filled in complete and correct manner.F u rt her, it is requested that one more copy of the requisite Performa be invariably sent separately along with the pension payment scrolls regarding payment of arrears of pension.

18.2 The DPDOs will render the monthly progress report as per Annexure `13′ to the office of the PCDA (P) Allahabad as well as to their respective CDA i.e.CDA (PD) Meerut/ CDA Chennai as the case may be.

18.3 A copy of the said Annexure ‘ B’ to the Govt. letter cited under reference shall invariably be provided by the PDAs to the pensioner concerned for information.

19.Dearness Relief: Dearness Relief is also payable in addition at the rates applicable issued by the Government from time to time. (while calculating Dearness Relief on disability pension, service element and disability element, both shall be taken together)

20.Nodal Officers

In case of any doubt relating to revision of pension in terms of these orders, PDAs may immediately take up the matter with Nodal Officers of the respective PSAs by name as under:-

For commissioned officers

Army:

Shri. R.B.Sharma, Sr. AO(P)

O/o the PCDA (P) Allahabad- 211014 Phone — 0532-2421877 Extn. 144 Email — [email protected]

Navy:

Smt Vandana Shetty, Sr. AO

O/o the PCDA (NAVY), Mumbai- 400039 Phone — 022-22696139

Email — [email protected]

Air Force: –

Shri Ravinder Grover, Sr. AO

0/o the JCDA (Air Force) New Delhi- 110066 Phone — 011-25695012

Email — [email protected]

For JCOs/ORs

Army: –

Shri S.C. Saroj, Sr. A.0(P)

0/o the PCDA (P) Allahabad- 211014

Phone — 0532-2421877 Ext. 206

Email — [email protected]

Navy: –

Smt Vandana Shetty, S r.A. 0

O/o the PCDA (NAVY), Mumbai- 400039 Phone — 022-22696139

Email — [email protected]

Air Force: –

Shri Amar Singh, Sr. A.0

0/o the Jt. CDA (Air Force) New Delhi Phone — 011-25695012

E-mail- [email protected]

Note- Pension cases to be referred in respect of Commissioned Officer and JC0s/ORs, pensioners  and family pensioners of Air Force and Navy retired/discharged/invalided out up to 31.10.1985 shall be forwarded to the PCDA (P) Allahabad, and the cases pertaining to retirement/ discharge/ invalidment after 31.10.1985 shall be forwarded to the office of the Jt. CDA (Air Force), Subroto Park, New Delhi and PCDA (Navy), Mumbai as the case may be, as indicated above.

A copy of this circular along with the Government of India, Ministry of Defence letter No.12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-II dt. 3rd Feb, 2016 is also available on the Website of this Office www.pcdapension.nic.in )

(NASIM ULLAH)

Asstt. Controller (P)

No. Gts/Tech/0167/XXI

Dated: 04.02.2016