Defence ministry's no to 'one rank, one pension' demand

The defence ministry said on Wednesday that the ex-servicemen's demand of 'one rank, one pension' was already examined in detail and was not acceptable to the government.

"The demand stands already examined in detail and was not found acceptable due to administrative, financial and legal reasons," minister of state for defence M Pallam Raju said in a written reply to a query in the Rajya Sabha.

The minister, however, added that the government was examining if it can make improvements in pension given to pensioners.

He said that the pensionary benefits of the Personnel Below Officer's Rank were already increased with effect from January 1, 2006.

"Pensionary benefits of PBORs, particularly three ranks of Sepoys, Naiks and Havaldars, were significantly enhanced by increasing weightage from five years to 10, eight, six years respectively and by allowing pension of pre-January 1, 1996 retirees to be computed with reference to the maximum pay-scale introduced from that date," Raju said.

"In consultation with the finance ministry, the benefits thus accrued to PBORs have been allowed to be retained while revising their pension as per government decision on the sixth Central Pay Commission recommendations with effect from January 1, 2006," he added.