Defence ministry for continuation of percentage-based disability pension

New Delhi: The Defence Ministry has asked the anomaly committee of the 7th Pay Commission to continue with the percentage-based system for calculating disability pensions for armed forces, an official statement said on Thursday.

"Service Headquarters have represented that the percentage-based system be continued under the 7th CPC for calculating disability pension for defence services at par with their civilian counterparts," the statement said.

"The ministry has referred the representation of the Service Headquarters to the Anomaly Committee of the pay panel for consideration," it said.

The statement said the commission had recommended a slab-based system for determining disability pension, which was accepted by the government. 

Percentage-based system was followed in the 6th CPC for calculating disability pension for defence personnel as well as civilians, the statement added.

The Defence Ministry has uploaded a draft notification on its website on the 7th Pay Commission recommendations which, once they come into effect, will significantly reduce the disability pension for soldiers.

According to the pay panel's recommendation, for 100 per cent disability, an officer will get Rs 27,000 per month, those in the ranks of Subedar Major to Naib Subedar will get Rs 17,000 while Havildar and below will get Rs 12,000. 

At present, a soldier with 100 per cent disability is entitled to pension equal to the last drawn salary plus 50 per cent as 'service component'.

The draft notification invited criticism from ex-servicemen, who said it will affect the morale of the soldiers.