OROP - One Rank One Pension Accepted by Central Government

Monday, February 17, 2014

The Central Government has accepted the principle of ‘one rank one pension’ for the defence forces and has allocated Rs. 500 crore for this purpose.

The Government has allocated Rs. 500 crores to the Defence Pension Account in the current financial year itself for implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme for the Defence Forces of the country. Making the announcement in Parliament today during his Interim Budget Speech, the Finance Minister Shri P. Chidamram said that this decision will be implemented prospectively from the financial year 2014-15. The Finance Minister said the Government had decided to walk the last mile and close the gap for all retirees in all ranks. He said the demand of the Defence Services for One Rank One Pension (OROP) had been there for a long time and had been an emotive issue. 

Extract of Budget Speech :

One Rank One Pension

56. Hon’ble Members are aware of the long standing demand of the Defence Services for One Rank One Pension (OROP). It is an emotive issue, it has legal implications, and it has to be handled with great sensitivity. During the tenure of the UPA Governments, changes in the pension rules applicable to the defence services were notified on three occasions in 2006, 2010 and 2013. 

As a result, the gap between pre-2006 retirees and post-2006 retirees has been closed in four ranks (subject to some anomalies that are being addressed): Havildar, Naib Subedar, Subedar and Subedar Major. There is still a small gap in the ranks of Sepoy and Naik and a gap in the ranks of Major and above. We need a young fighting force, we need young jawans, and we need young officers. We also need to take care of those who served in the defence forces only for a limited number of years. Government has therefore decided to walk the last mile and close the gap for all retirees in all ranks. 

I am happy to announce that Government has accepted the principle of One Rank One Pension for the defence forces. This decision will be implemented prospectively from the financial year 2014-15. The requirement for 2014-15 is estimated at Rs.500 crore and, as an earnest of the UPA Government’s commitment, I propose to transfer a sum of `500 crore to the Defence Pension Account in the current financial year itself.

Source: PIB News

Defence budget hiked 10 per cent, government accepts 'one rank, one pension'

New Delhi:  The Centre today announced that it has accepted the "one rank, one pension" principle for the forces as part of a 10 per cent hike in the defence budget, a decision that the ruling Congress hopes will win it the support of lakhs of soldiers ahead of the national election, due by May.

In his interim budget speech, Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced that the defence budget was being raised to Rs.2,24,000 crore.

"Rs. 500 crore will be transferred in 2014-15 for implementing the one rank one pension decision," he added.

Under the "one rank, one pension" rule, retired soldiers of the same rank and length of service will receive the same pension, regardless of when they retire. Currently, pensioners who retired before 2006 receive less pension than their counterparts, even their juniors.

The mega announcement comes three days after Rahul Gandhi endorsed it after meeting a delegation of ex-servicemen last Friday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the subject had been addressed comprehensively and he was confident that "our forces, officers and jawans will welcome the announcement." There are 14 lakh serving and 24 lakh retired military personnel in the country.

Rahul Gandhi is expected to address a rally of ex-servicemen in Uttarakhand on Saturday.

The BJP welcomed the announcement on one rank, one pension for the forces, but party veteran Jaswant Singh, a former defence minister and a retired soldier, raised doubts about its implementation.

"This doesn't fully address the concerns of the forces. The budget helps UPA's politics more than the economy," Mr Singh told NDTV.

The Centre had earlier raised the subsidy cap on cooking gas cylinders from nine to 12, after Rahul Gandhi made an appeal to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from a Congress party platform.

The decades-old "one rank, one pension" demand has seen many protests by former soldiers; many decorated veterans have returned their medals and some have even gone on hunger strikes to fight for it.
 

(Source - NDTV Update)

One Rank One Pension for armed forces approved in budget

Great news for ex servicemen. Finance Minister in his interim budget granted Rs 500 Crores for implementation of OROP for the ex servicemen. It will be effected prospectively from 01.04.2014.
Chidambaram says the government has accepted the one rank one pension scheme for the defence forces. "Rs 500 crore will be transferred in 2014-15 for implementing the 'one rank one pay' decision,"

(Source- Pay Commission blog)

Rahul backs one rank, one pension for ex-servicemen

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Rahul backs one rank, one pension for ex-servicemen: Deccan Herald

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday lent his support to the long-standing demand of ex-servicemen for “one rank, one pension” (OROP).

“I am on your side. I understand your concerns. You give your life for the country, I will do all that I can to see that your demands are met,” Gandhi told various state delegations of ex-servicemen who met him.

The delegations from Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab met the Congress vice-president on Friday and pressed for implementation of OROP.

There are over two million defence pensioners who receive differential retirement benefits. All pre-2006 pensionersreceive lesser pension than those who retired in the same rank later and even than those of junior rank.

A colonel who retired in 2003 gets Rs 26,150 as pension compared to Rs 34,000 drawn by a colonel who retired this year. BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had also reached out to them when he addressed a huge rally of ex-servicemen in Rewari last year with former Army Chief V K Singh joining him on the dais.

Gandhi assured the ex-servicemen that he would make all efforts to ensure that this long-standing demand is met at the earliest. [Source]

Rahul backs 'One-Rank-One-Pension' demand of ex-servicemen: IBN Live

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi on Friday backed the long-pending demand of "One-Rank, One-Pension" for ex-servicemen assuring them that he will make all efforts to ensure it is met at the earliest.

"I am on your side. I understand your concerns. You give your life for the country, I will do all that I can to see that your demands are met," Gandhi told a gathering of 1000 odd ex-servicemen during an interaction.

Gandhi is holding interactions with various sections to get their direct feedback for Congress manifesto for 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Delegations of ex-servicemen from Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab met Gandhi on Friday and requested him to push for the implementation of the "One Rank, One Pension" [source]

राहुल ने पूर्व सैनिकों को दिया एक रैंक-एक पेंशन का भरोसा: Jagran

नई दिल्ली। पूर्व सैनिकों की लंबे समय से चली आ रही 'एक रैंक-एक पेंशन' मांग का कांग्रेस उपाध्यक्ष राहुल गांधी ने समर्थन किया है। उन्होंने पूर्व सैनिकों को वादा किया कि वह जल्द से जल्द उनकी मांगों को पूरा करने का प्रयास करेंगे।

यहां करीब एक हजार पूर्व सैनिकों से मुलाकात में राहुल गांधी ने कहा, 'मैं आपके साथ हूं। आपने देश के लिए अपना पूरा जीवन दिया। आपकी मांगों को पूरा करने के लिए भरसक प्रयास करूंगा।' बता दें कि राहुल गांधी आगामी आम चुनाव के मद्देनजर कांग्रेस के चुनावी घोषणापत्र पर राय लेने के लिए विभिन्न तबकों से मिल रहे हैं। इसी कड़ी में हरियाणा, पंजाब, राजस्थान और हिमाचल प्रदेश के पूर्व सैनिकों के प्रतिनिधिमंडल से शुक्रवार को राहुल की मुलाकात हुई। पूर्व सैनिकों के संगठन के चेयरमैन मेजर वेद प्रकाश ने बताया कि मुलाकात में उनकी तरफ से सशस्त्र बलों में कार्यरत सैनिकों का भी मामला उठाया गया। राहुल से गुजारिश की गई कि ये सैनिक पारिवारिक जिम्मेदारियों का निर्वहण करने से पहले ही सेवानिवृत्त हो जाते हैं। ऐसे में उन्हें अर्धसैनिक बलों या सरकारी नौकरियों में समायोजित किया जाए। [Source]

राहुल ने ‘एक रैंक-एक पेंशन’ मांग का समर्थन किया : Zee News

नई दिल्ली : कांग्रेस उपाध्यक्ष राहुल गांधी ने शुक्रवार को पूर्व सैनिकों के लिए लंबे समय से चली आ रही ‘एक रैंक-एक पेंशन’ की मांग का समर्थन किया और उन्हें आश्वासन दिया कि यह जल्दी से जल्दी पूरा हो इसके लिए वह पूरा प्रयास करेंगे।

राहुल गांधी ने यहां करीब एक हजार पूर्व सैनिकों की एक बैठक में उनसे बातचीत के दौरान कहा, ‘मैं आपके पक्ष में हूं। मैं आपकी चिंताओं को समझता हूं। देश के लिए आपने अपना जीवन दिया है। आपकी मांगे पूरी हों, इसके लिए मैं वह सब करूंगा जो मैं कर सकता हूं।’

हरियाणा, राजस्थान, हिमाचल प्रदेश और पंजाब के पूर्व सैंनिकों के एक प्रतिनिधिमंडल ने यहां राहुल गांधी से मुलाकात कर उनसे ‘एक रैंक-एक पेंशन’ की नीति को लागू करने की मांग को आगे बढाने का अनुरोध किया।

भारत के करीब 20 लाख पूर्व सैनिकों की ‘एक रैंक-एक पेंशन’ की मांग लंबे समय से चली आ रही है। पूर्व सैनिकों का कहना है कि बाद में एक ही रैंक पर रिटायर होने वाले जूनियर लोगों को ज्यादा पेंशन मिलना अन्यायपूर्ण है। उन्होंने राहुल गांधी से यह सुनिश्चित करने का अनुरोध किया कि यह विसंगति दूर हो।

गांधी ने पूर्व सैनिकों से कहा कि वह यह महसूस करते हैं कि उनकी मांग काफी पुरानी है और वह यह सुनिश्चित करने का पूरा प्रयास करेंगे कि लंबे समय से चली आ रही उनकी मांग जल्द से जल्द पूरी हो। कांग्रेस के पूर्व सैनिक प्रकोष्ठ के अध्यक्ष मेजर वेद प्रकाश ने प्रेस ट्रस्ट से कहा कि पूर्व सैनिकों ने इस बैठक के दौरान इस बात का भी उल्लेख किया कि सेना में काम करने वाले जो लोग जल्द रिटायर हो जाते हैं और यहां तक कि उनकी पारिवारिक जिम्मेदारियां भी पूरी नहीं हुई होती हैं वैसे लोगों को अर्धसैनिक बलों और अन्य सरकारी नौकरियों में जगह मिलनी चाहिए। (एजेंसी) 

[Source - by cgenewstools@gmail.com]

Prime Minister Approves Composition of 7th Central Pay Commission Under the Chairmanship of Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur

Prime Minister Approves Composition of 7th Central Pay Commission Under the Chairmanship of Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur, Retired Judge of the Supreme Court and Retired Chairman, Armed Forces Tribunal

The Finance Minister Shri P. Chidambaram has issued the following statement:

“The Prime Minister has approved the composition of the 7th Central Pay Commission as follows:

1.	Shri Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur (Retired Judge of the Supreme Court and Retired Chairman, Armed Forces Tribunal)	Chairman
2.	Shri Vivek Rae (Secretary, Petroleum & Natural Gas)	Member (Full Time)
3.	Dr. Rathin Roy (Director, NIPFP)	Member (Part Time)
4.	Smt. Meena Agarwal (OSD, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance)”	Secretary

Source: PIB News

MAXIMUM AGE LIMIT FOR RECRUITMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS/FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Guidelines on re-employment of Ex-servicemen in Public Sector Banks/Financial services have been issued vide the Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs (Banking Division) (Now Department of Financial Services) OM No.261/16/89-SCT(B) dated the 30th May, 1990.

The OM prescribes the following maximum age limit for recruitment of Ex-servicemen in the Public Sector Banks/Financial Institutions:

1.	Security Guard/Armed Guard	45 Years
2.	Clerical cadre	50 Years
3.	Sub-staff cadre other than Security Guard/Armed Guard	50 Years
4.	Chief Security Officer	55 Years
5.	Security Officers	40 Years

The Public Sector Banks do not have any Assured Career Progression Scheme (ACP) similar to Government.

The above information was submitted as in the written reply in Rajya Sabha on 12th Dcember 2013 by the Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Shri V.Narayanasamy.

7 points you must know about PPF

The key to wealth creation lies in the practice of saving regularly and systematically. The public provident fund (PPF) is one such long-term investment option that would suit investors of all types. Scoring high on safety, by virtue of it being government backed, this wonderful option comes with tax benefits, loan options and a low maintenance cost. Investment Yogi explains seven must-know facts of a PPF account to make it more profitable for you.

1. It requires just Rs. 100 to start a PPF account: PPF accounts could be opened by individuals, whether salaried or self-employed, with a minimum initial deposit of just Rs. 100. Accounts could be opened at any branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) or branches of its associated banks. Other nationalised banks which offer this service are Bank of India, Central Bank of India and Bank of Baroda. The general post office too allows opening of a PPF account. Individuals may also open a PPF account on behalf of a minor child of whom they are the guardian.
2. PPF accounts have a minimum and maximum deposit limit: A minimum deposit of Rs. 500 must be made during one whole financial year. The maximum that could be deposited is Rs. 1,00,000 in a financial year. Deposits could be in either one go, or in flexible instalments (in multiples of Rs.10). You could vary the amount and the number of instalments, as per your convenience, provided you do not exceed 12 instalments in one financial year. Failing to deposit the minimum requirement would lead to your account being discontinued. Interest would, however, continue to accrue. You could regularize the account again on paying the prescribed default fee along with subscription arrears.
3. Interest calculation in PPF account: The interest rate in your PPF account is calculated on the lowest balance between the fifth and the last day of the month. So to maximise your earnings, try making deposits between the 1st and the 5th of the month. Interest is compounded annually and credited on March 31 each year.
4. Premature withdrawal from PPF: The entire amount in your account could be withdrawn only on maturity. However, in times of financial crises partial withdrawals are permitted subject to certain ceiling limits. You could withdraw once a year, from the 7th year onwards. Such withdrawals must not exceed 50 per cent of the balance at the end of the fourth year, or 50 per cent of the balance at the end of the immediate preceding year, whichever is lower. Premature closure of a PPF account is permissible only in case of death.
5. PPF offers multiple tax benefits: Deposits in a PPF account qualify for a deduction under section 80C. Furthermore, the entire maturity amount including the interest is non-taxable. Not only is the interest earned tax free, PPF deposits are exempt from wealth tax too.
6. Need a loan? Use your PPF: You could take a loan on your PPF deposit, subject to certain terms and conditions. Loans could be taken from the third year onwards till the sixth year. Up to a maximum of 25 per cent of the balance at the end of the 2nd immediately preceding year would be allowed as loan. Such withdrawals are to be repaid within 24 months. Rate of interest charged on the loan would be 2 per cent more than the PPF interest rate prevailing then.
   
   A second loan could be availed as long as you are within the 3rd and the 6th year, and only if the first one is fully repaid. Also note that once you become eligible for withdrawals, no loans would be permitted. Inactive accounts or discontinued accounts are not eligible for loan.
7. Continuing PPF after the 15-year period: PPF account holders have an option of extending their accounts after the 15 year tenure with or without further subscription, for any period in a block of five years. The balance in the account will continue to earn interest at normal rate as admissible on PPF account till the account is closed. In case the account is extended without contribution, any amount can be withdrawn without restrictions. However, only one withdrawal is allowed per year.
   
   If you continue the account after 15 years, with continued deposit, withdrawal up to 60 per cent of the balance at the beginning of each extended period (block of five years) is permitted.