Varun Mitra

Eligibility for One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme

The One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme is designed to provide uniform pension to all Armed Forces personnel of the same rank, who have served the same length of service, regardless of when they retired. However, the eligibility criteria for receiving OROP are specifically outlined and pertain to certain categories of personnel. Here’s a breakdown of the key eligibility requirements for the OROP policy:

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1. Category of Beneficiaries:

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A. Armed Forces Personnel:

• Army, Navy, and Air Force Personnel: OROP is primarily applicable to personnel from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. This includes:

  • Officers (including General, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, etc.)

  • Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) (including Subedar Major, Subedar, Naib Subedar, etc.)

  • Other Ranks (such as Sepoys, Havildars, and Naiks)                                                                                          

B. Ex-Servicemen and Widows:

• Ex-Servicemen who retired from service before the implementation of OROP are eligible for the benefit. This includes personnel who retired after serving the minimum required tenure and at any rank within the military.

• Widows of Deceased Personnel are also eligible to receive the revised pension under the OROP scheme. The pension will be recalculated based on the applicable rank and service tenure of the deceased personnel.                                                                                                                                             

2. Conditions for Eligibility:                                               

A. Minimum Service Requirement:

• The personnel must have served in the armed forces for a certain minimum period to be eligible for the OROP benefits. While there is no strict minimum service requirement mentioned in the policy, personnel who have served for at least 15 years (on average) are eligible for pension under the OROP scheme, which is consistent with India's military pension rules.                                                                                    

B. Rank and Length of Service:

• Same Rank: The individual must have served at the same rank as the other personnel receiving OROP benefits.

• Same Length of Service: Pensioners who served the same length of time at the same rank are eligible for the same pension under the OROP policy.                                          

C. Date of Retirement:

• The policy applies to all veterans, whether they retired before or after the implementation of OROP. Even those who retired earlier than others will have their pensions adjusted to reflect the OROP rates. The only differentiator is the date of retirement, which impacts the pension initially, but under OROP, the pension will be uniform for those with identical rank and service length.                                                             

D. Rank at the Time of Retirement:

• Personnel who retired at a specific rank, e.g., Colonel, Major, or Sepoy, are eligible for pension under OROP. The pension will be based on the corresponding pension scale for their rank, irrespective of their date of retirement.                                                                                          

3. Ineligibility:                                                                                

• Civilians in the Armed Forces: OROP is not applicable to civilian employees working in the Ministry of Defence or other government departments. Only active and retired military personnel are covered under the scheme.

• Personnel from Paramilitary or Police Forces: The OROP scheme applies strictly to the armed forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force), and does not extend to paramilitary forces like the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), or state police personnel.

• Personnel Who Opt for Voluntary Retirement (VRS): While voluntary retirement is generally respected, personnel who take Voluntary Retirement before reaching the minimum retirement age or tenure may not be eligible for OROP unless they meet the service requirements.

• Posthumous Adjustments: If a veteran has already passed away before the implementation of OROP, the widow or legal heir can claim the revised pension benefits, but not the veteran themselves.                                                                                              

4. Impact on Pension Calculation:                                

• The pension of eligible personnel is recalculated based on the OROP formula, which provides uniform pension for those retiring in the same rank with the same length of service. The pension is revised every five years to reflect changes in the average salary of serving personnel in that rank.

• The arrears payment is also a part of the eligibility. Personnel who retired before OROP's implementation are entitled to arrears for the period between the announcement and implementation of the policy.                                                                                                                                               

5. Special Considerations:                                                 

• Family Pensioners: Widows, children, and dependent parents of deceased personnel are entitled to a pension based on the deceased service record and rank, which will be recalculated according to OROP rules.

• Ex-Gratia Payment: For certain categories of veterans, an ex-gratia payment may be made, but this is separate from the OROP scheme.                                                                                                                      

6. Implementation and Periodic Updates:             

• The pension rate is updated every 5 years, and the revision is based on the average pension of serving personnel of the same rank.

• The arrears are also paid to those eligible, and this can sometimes be a large sum for veterans who retired years ago but will now receive a revised, higher pension.                       

Conclusion:

The OROP policy is designed to create equity among military veterans who have served in the same rank for the same length of time, offering them a uniform pension. Eligible personnel include all officers, JCOs, and other ranks from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as the widows and dependent family members of deceased personnel. However, civilian and paramilitary forces are excluded from its benefits. The policy ensures that veterans, regardless of their retirement date, receive the same pension benefits, creating fairness and addressing long-standing grievances regarding pension disparities.