One Rank One Pension scheme for armed forces likely to be announced on August 15

The long wait for the ex-servicemen of the country is about to end. According to sources, PM Narendra Modi is likely to announce implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme in his Independence Day speech.

OROP has been a long-standing demand of the over two million ex-servicemen of India. It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to the defence personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement. The scheme is estimated to cost around Rs 8,600 crore initially and subsequently several crore rupees annually.

Also Read: One Rank One Pension: Less about money, more about honour

Currently, all pre 2006 (the year the 6th pay panel recommendations became effective) pensioners receive lesser pension than not only their counterparts but also their juniors. 

PM Modi pledged to implement OROP on run up to the Lok Sabha elections. While several Union Ministers including Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has pledged that government is firm on honouring its commitement, no time frame was given by them. However Parrikar earlier said that the framework of OROP has been worked out and no one should politicise the movement. 

With no solution in sight, ex soldiers started relay protest in Jantar Manatar. They also threatened to take their protest to poll bound state of Bihar. On Monday, government started back channel talks with several ex-armymen associations. The Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement met FM Arun Jaitley on Monday. He told the delegation that it's now a matter of days, not even months before the decision is finalised.  There is enormous expectation that the announcement is likely to be made by PM on August 15 in his speech.