The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has authorized a pension modification for Armed Forces Pensioners and family pensioners under the One Rank One Pension scheme, effective 1 July 2019. (OROP). The pensions of previous retirees would be recalculated using the average of the minimum and maximum pensions of Defence Forces retirees in 2018 with the same rank and duration of service.
This modification applies to retired members of the Armed Forces until 30 June 2019, with the exception of those who retired prematurely (PMR) as of 1 July 2014. More than 25.13 million military retirees and family pensioners would gain (including around 4.52 lakh new beneficiaries). Pensions for those with above-average salaries will be protected. Family pensioners, including war widows and disabled senior citizens, would also qualify for the stipend.
Arrears will be paid in four semiannual installments. All family pensioners, including recipients of the Special, Liberalised Family Pension and the Gallantry Award, will be paid a lump amount.
The projected annual cost to implement the modification at a rate of 31% Dearness Relief is roughly Rs 8,450 crore (DR). On the basis of DR at 17% for the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2021 and 31% for the period from 1 July 2021 to 31 December 2021, it is expected that arrears from 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2021 will surpass Rs 19,316 crore. According to the applicable dearness relief, the arrears for the period between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2022 are roughly Rs 23,638 crore. This expense is in addition to the ongoing OROP expenditures.
On November 7, 2015, the government released a policy letter introducing OROP for Defense Forces employees and family pensions beginning July 1, 2014. According to the policy proposal, the pension would be revised every five years in the future. In the eight years following the adoption of OROP, an average of Rs 57 billion were spent annually at a rate of Rs 7,123 billion.
Estimated rank-based pension rise (in rupees) beginning 1 July 2019 under OROP:
Rank-Wise OROP Pension Arrears Table 2022
OROP Arrears for Sepoy 2022
| Rank | Sepoy |
| Pension as on 01.01.2016 | 17,699 |
| Revised pension w.e.f. 01.07.2019 | 19,726 |
| Likely arrears from 01.07.2019 to 30.06.2022 | 87,000 |
OROP Arrears for Naik 2022
| Rank | Naik |
| Pension as on 01.01.2016 | 18,427 |
| Revised pension w.e.f. 01.07.2019 | 21,101 |
| Likely arrears from 01.07.2019 to 30.06.2022 | 1,14,000 |
OROP Arrears for Havildar 2022
| Rank | Havildar |
| Pension as on 01.01.2016 | 20,066 |
| Revised pension w.e.f. 01.07.2019 | 21,782 |
| Likely arrears from 01.07.2019 to 30.06.2022 | 70,000 |
OROP Arrears for NB Subedar 2022
| Rank | Nb Subedar |
| Pension as on 01.01.2016 | 24,232 |
| Revised pension w.e.f. 01.07.2019 | 26,800 |
| Likely arrears from 01.07.2019 to 30.06.2022 | 1,08,000 |
OROP Arrears for Sub Major 2022
| Rank | Sub Major |
| Pension as on 01.01.2016 | 33,526 |
| Revised pension w.e.f. 01.07.2019 | 37,600 |
| Likely arrears from 01.07.2019 to 30.06.2022 | 1,75,000 |
OROP Arrears for Major 2022
| Rank | Major |
| Pension as on 01.01.2016 | 61,205 |
| Revised pension w.e.f. 01.07.2019 | 68,550 |
| Likely arrears from 01.07.2019 to 30.06.2022 | 3,05,000 |
OROP Arrears for Lieutenant Colonel 2022
| Rank | Lt. Colonel |
| Pension as on 01.01.2016 | 84,330 |
| Revised pension w.e.f. 01.07.2019 | 95,400 |
| Likely arrears from 01.07.2019 to 30.06.2022 | 4,55,000 |
OROP Arrears for Colonel 2022
| Rank | Colonel |
| Pension as on 01.01.2016 | 92,855 |
| Revised pension w.e.f. 01.07.2019 | 1,03,700 |
| Likely arrears from 01.07.2019 to 30.06.2022 | 4,42,000 |
OROP Arrears for Brigadier 2022
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Pension as on 01.01.2016 | 96,555 |
| Revised pension w.e.f. 01.07.2019 | 1,08,800 |
| Likely arrears from 01.07.2019 to 30.06.2022 | 5,05,000 |
OROP Arrears for Major General 2022
| Rank | Maj. Gen. |
| Pension as on 01.01.2016 | 99,621 |
| Revised pension w.e.f. 01.07.2019 | 1,09,100 |
| Likely arrears from 01.07.2019 to 30.06.2022 | 3,90,000 |
OROP Arrears for Lieutenant General 2022
| Rank | Lt. Gen. |
| Pension as on 01.01.2016 | 1,01,515 |
| Revised pension w.e.f. 01.07.2019 | 1,12,050 |
| Likely arrears from 01.07.2019 to 30.06.2022 | 4,32,000 |
Inputs from PIB News
| Rank | Pension as on Jan 2016 | Revised Pension from Jul 2019 | Revised Pension from Jul 2021 | Arrears from Jul 2019 to Jun 2022 |
| Sepoy | 17,699 | 19,726 | 20,394 | 87,000 |
| Naik | 18,427 | 21,101 | 21,930 | 1,14,000 |
| Havildar | 20,066 | 21,782 | 22,294 | 70,000 |
| Nb Subedar | 24,232 | 26,800 | 27,597 | 1,08,000 |
| Sub Major | 33,526 | 37,600 | 38,863 | 1,75,000 |
| Major | 61,205 | 68,550 | 70,827 | 3,05,000 |
| Lt. Colonel | 84,330 | 95,400 | 98,832 | 4,55,000 |
| Colonel | 92,855 | 1,03,700 | 1,07,062 | 4,42,000 |
| Brigadier | 96,555 | 1,08,800 | 1,12,596 | 5,05,000 |
| Maj. Gen. | 99,621 | 1,09,100 | 1,12,039 | 3,90,000 |
| Lt. Gen. | 1,01,515 | 1,12,050 | 1,15,316 | 4,32,000 |
On December 23, 2022, the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme’s pension modification for military personnel and family pensioners received approval from the Union Cabinet Committee.
The second adjustment of OROP for retirees from the military forces and family pensioners was authorised by the Union Cabinet Committee, which is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on December 23, 2022, and will take effect on July 1, 2019.
The newest OROP statement is that the basic pension for armed forces pensioners and family pensioners retired up to June 30, 2019 will be altered (excluding pre-mature retired with effect from July 1, 2014). According to the PIB analysis, the pension revision under One Rank One Pension (OROP) will benefit over 25 lakh pensioners.
The OROP pension will be adjusted based on the average of the minimum and maximum pensions for the personnel’s same rank and service term for the entire calendar year 2018. The Central Government released the OROP pension policy letter on November 7, 2015, and the first OROP pension was amended on July 1, 2014, for Defense pensioners and family pensioners.
Arrears will be paid in four half-yearly instalments, according to a PIB press release dated 23.12.2022. All family pensioners, including those receiving Special/Liberalized Family Pension and Gallantry Award Winners, will, however, get their back pay in a single instalment.
The PIB report covers July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022. 17% Dearness Relief for July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021 and July 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 Arrears are 31% of DR. From Jan. 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022, DR is 34%.
PCDA and CGDA will soon publish rank-wise OROP pension revision tables for Defense pensioners and family pensioners. PCDA and CGDA announced the first OROP pension revision tables for all Defense pensioners on February 4, 2016. OROP Circular 555 included 101 amended pension tables. OROP Table No 7 comprises 22 columns of updated pension amounts for Sepoy, Hony Naik, Naik, Naik (TS), Hony Havildar, Havildar, Havildar Naib Sub, Artificer III-I (Navy), Naib Subedar, Subedar, Subedar Major, Hony Lieutenant, Hony Captain, NCs(E), and corresponding positions. All military pensioners and family pensioners are awaiting the PCDA or CGDA OROP pension adjustment tables to learn their new pension.
What is the approximate OROP pension arrears for Sepoy?
According to the latest government figures, A Sepoy will receive Rs.87,000 as arrears for the period from July 2019 to June 2022 under OROP Scheme.
What is the approximate OROP pension arrears for Naik?
According to the latest government figures, A Naik will receive Rs.1,14,000 as arrears for the period from July 2019 to June 2022 under OROP Scheme.
What is the approximate OROP pension arrears for Havildar?
According to the latest government figures, A Havildar will receive Rs.70,000 as arrears for the period from July 2019 to June 2022 under OROP Scheme.