Current Affairs 8 November 2024

One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme
Source: PIB

Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a decade of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, recognizing it as a significant step in honoring the dedication and sacrifices of India’s veterans and ex-service personnel.

About the One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme:

• Definition: OROP ensures that military personnel who retire at the same rank and with the same length of service receive the same pension, regardless of the date they retired.
• Implementation: The scheme was approved by the government in 2015, with retroactive benefits starting from July 1, 2014.
• Pension Re-fixation: Pensions are recalculated based on the average of the minimum and maximum pensions of 2013 retirees who held the same rank and had the same length of service.
• Arrears: Arrears are paid in four half-yearly installments to most pensioners. However, family pensioners and Gallantry awardees receive the arrears in a single installment.
• Future Revisions: Pension adjustments are planned to occur every five years to ensure they remain up to date.
• Nodal Agency: The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, under the Ministry of Defence, oversees the scheme’s implementation.
• Payment Structure: The OROP benefits are integrated into the standard pension system, rather than being issued as a separate payment.
• Exclusions: Personnel who voluntarily retired or were discharged under specific military rules after the implementation of OROP are not eligible for the scheme.

This initiative is seen as a major step towards improving the welfare of ex-servicemen, ensuring equitable treatment for those who have served the nation.