Revised pensions under OROP given to over two lakh defence pensioners: Govt

New Delhi: Revised pensions under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme have been given to over two lakh defence pensioners along with the first installment of arrears, the government said on Monday. [caption id=“attachment_2672670” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Firstpost[/caption] It said “revised pensionary benefits” were released to 221,224 pensioners drawing service and disability pensions from the Defence Pension Disbursing Offices, functioning under the Controller General of Defence Accounts. “The amount along with the first installment of arrears had been released and credited by the defence ministry to the accounts of these pensioners on 1 March,” the statement said. In the case of the remaining 146,335 family pensioners drawing pension from the Defence Pension Drawing Officers, payment along with arrears is likely to be released by March-end. The ministry said the additional annual financial increase in grants for OROP came to Rs.7,488.70 crore. The total arrears to be paid from 1 July, 2014 to 31 December, 2015 was Rs.10,925.11 crore. The increase in pensions will cost the defence ministry an additional Rs.4,721.34 crore, with the defence pension liability coming to Rs.64,959.34 crore for 2015-16. IANS