New Disability Pension Rules Introduced for Military Personnel

• 03 Oct 2023

Recently, the Defence Ministry has released updated entitlement rules (ER) for disability pensions for military personnel, incorporating changes to certain provisions and introducing an 'impairment relief' (IR) for conditions like hypertension and diabetes, amid concerns about the high number of personnel receiving disability pensions.

Key Points

• New Compensation: The revised rules introduce 'Impairment Relief' (IR) as a monthly disability compensation.
• Covering Lifestyle Diseases: IR is designed to cover conditions like hypertension and diabetes, which were not previously included under disability pensions.
• Eligibility Criteria: Armed forces personnel who retire or are discharged with a disability categorized as Category B or C, assessed at 20% or more, will receive IR.
• Not a Pension: IR is distinct from a pension and ceases upon the recipient's demise.
• CAG Report: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) earlier requested the Defence Ministry to analyze the high prevalence of disability pensions among military personnel.
• CAG's report indicated that a significant percentage of officers and personnel below officer rank (PBOR) retiring annually were receiving disability pensions.
• New Rules Effective Date: The rules, titled 'Casualty Pension and Disability Compensation Awards to Armed Forces Personnel,' take effect from September 21, 2023.
• Recommendations from Study Group: The ER, 2023 incorporates recommendations from a Study Group comprising members from various military branches and departments, aimed at updating the rules to reflect policy changes since ER, 2008.
• Specific Cases: Concerns have been raised regarding scenarios where soldiers experience health issues like cardiac arrest or cancer due to military service. The new rules appear to limit eligibility for special family pensions and disability pensions in such cases.
• Reduction in Disability Percentage: The percentage for hypertension-induced disabilities has been reduced from 30% to 5%, potentially impacting eligibility for disability benefits.
• Geographic Limitations: Critics argue that the new rules restrict benefits to high-altitude areas and service durations exceeding three months, contrary to Supreme Court rulings.