Government releases revised pensionary benefits under OROP to over two lakh defence pensioners

NEW DELHI: The government on Monday released revised pensionary benefits under One Rank One Pension (OROP) to over two lakh beneficiaries drawing service or disability pension. The amount along with first instalment of arrears had been released and credited by the Defence Ministry to the accounts of pensioners on March 1, 2016.

“In the case of remaining 1,46,335 family pensioners drawing pension from Departmental Pension Drawing Officers ( DPDOs), payment along with arrears is expected to be released by March end. Banks are under process of revision work,” a Ministry of Defence press release explains.

The total additional annual financial increase for grant of One Rank One Pension (OROP) is Rs 7488.70 crores. The total amount on account of arrears to be paid for the period July 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015 is Rs 10925.11 crores.

The release states,” Out of total annual liability of Rs 7488.70 crores, Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) family pensioners shall get Rs 6,405.59 crores, which works out to 85.5% of total expenditure of OROP.”

Due to increase in defence pension budget, the additional liability for current financial year 2015-16 shall be Rs 4,721.34 crores which will increase the current defence pension liability of Rs 60,238 crores to Rs. 64,959.34 crores for the year 2015-16.