The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has introduced significant changes to the disability pension system for
armed forces personnel. The new rules, titled ‘Entitlement Rules for Casualty Pension and Disability Compensation Awards to
Armed Forces Personnel, 2023’, were released on September 21, replacing all earlier entitlement norms.
The new rules replace the existing norms on disability pensions for armed forces personnel. The definition, calculation method and eligibility criteria have changed under the new rules. The new rules have revised the types of disabilities and replaced the term ‘disability element’ with ‘impairment relief’ under the new rules, according to a Tribune report.
Changes under new disability pension rules
The new rules redefine the terminology, disabilities covered and methods for assessing disability percentage. These changes will have financial implications, impacting the pension amounts received by eligible armed forces personnel, according to the report.
The concept of ‘impairment relief’ replaces the term ‘disability element.’ This relief will now encompass lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and Type-2 diabetes, broadening the scope of covered conditions.
The disability pension eligibility is limited to armed forces personnel who acquire diseases or disabilities during duty, including high altitude areas or due to excessive physical exertion, according to an Economic Times report. Officer trainees and cadets won’t be entitled to a disability pension but will receive an ex-gratia payment.
These changes come after a comprehensive review by an inter-services panel. The review was initiated after a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report raised concerns about the high percentage of officers claiming disability pensions, especially medical officers. The audit watchdog questioned the reasons for this disparity, prompting the
Defence Ministry to assess and revise the existing policies, according to reports.
Ex-servicemen association raises objection
While the MoD asserts that these changes are necessary, the All India Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association has voiced concerns. They argue that the new rules put soldiers at a disadvantage compared to civilian employees, particularly in terms of the requirement of ten years of service to earn an Invalid Pension, according to an Indian Express report. Additionally, the association highlights discrepancies in how disabilities, especially heart diseases, are linked to military service. They emphasise that stress and strain can occur regardless of the area of posting, challenging the modified definitions of disability and diseases under new rules.
For the uninitiated, the existing rules state that all heart ailments are related to stress and strain caused by duty. However, according to the MoD's new standards, heart issues will only be considered service-related if they occur in high-altitude zones.
The alterations in disability pension policies are expected to impact the government exchequer significantly. Defence pensions have seen a consistent increase, with the amount of disability pensions reaching approximately Rs 4,000 crore in 2022-23, Indian Express reported citing government sources.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
