One Rank One Pension

The Supreme Court (SC) gave the government leeway to pay in instalments in arrears due to veterans under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.

• The Supreme Court gave the government an allowable margin to pay in instalments ?28,000 crore in arrears due to veterans under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.
• The staggered payment of OROP arrears would be made to various categories of eligible pensioners, totalling 21 lakh persons, from April 2023 till February 2024.
• The Chief Justice of India (CJI) has argued back to the government regarding a “sealed cover” containing documents purportedly on the “financial implications” and “live wire” issues connected to the OROP expenditure.
• He also told the government that there were “no secrets in the court”.

About One Rank One Pension (ORPO):

• "OROP" refers to the practise of paying military officers the same pension regardless of the date of retirement for the same rank and the same amount of time in service.
• Prior to OROP, retired service members received pensions in accordance with the Pay Commission's recommendations at the time of their retirement.
• The implementation of the scheme was based on recommendation of the Koshiyari committee, parliamentary panel formed under the chairmanship of Bhagat Singh Koshiyari.
• Nodal Implementation Agency - Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence.
• Payment - OROP is not paid as a separate element as it is an integrated part of pension.

Issues with OROP:

• Financial issues: The government's pension costs will increase if full OROP is granted.
• Administrative issues- Passing all the benefits is a laborious task.
• Legal issues - Other government workers, especially paramilitary forces, will make similar demands.